Putin India Visit: PM Modi receives President Putin, says 'Delighted to welcome my friend'

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on a two-day visit on Thursday evening. His aircraft 'Flying Kremlin' was the most tracked flight in the world earlier today, according to Flight Radar 24.

Shortly after President Vladimir Putin landed in Delhi and was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Kremlin on Thursday lauded the Indian leader’s surprise gesture of personally meeting the Russian leader at the Palam airport, calling it “warm and unexpected”

Putin India Visit Live Updates: 'Delighted to welcome my friend', says PM Modi as Putin lands in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Delhi airport. Taking to X, PM Modi said, "Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people."

As Putin landed in India on a two-day visit, MFA Russia took to X and stated, "Russia President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India for a two-day state visit. The Russian leader received a warm personal welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled in the same car as they departed from the Palam Technical Airport in Delhi. They are now en-route to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner.

Putin India Visit Live Updates: Putin receives grand, ceremonial welcome at Delhi airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Palam Technical Airport in Delhi.

President Putin is on a two-day State visit to India. He will hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with PM Narendra Modi in Delhi on December 5.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda took to X and stated, "Met Mikhail Murashko, Health Minister of the Russian Federation, today. Discussed various health sector-related issues and agreed to enhance bilateral collaboration and partnership in health sector. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to advancing a shared vision of accessibility to affordable and quality healthcare."

At the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation ministerial meeting, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said, "Namaste, I am glad to meet you once again on Indian soil. As you just said, our countries are tied with a solid, time-proven friendship, which is based on mutual respect. And on our way here, while we were in the car discussing various things, we came to the common ground that we are bound by very deep traditions which are typical of the Russian and Indian nations..."

On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's allegations that the government is not following the tradition of allowing foreign dignitaries to meet the LoP, Sources say, "During a visit, MEA organises meetings for the incoming dignitary with Government officials and Government bodies. It is upto the visiting delegation to organise meetings outside the Government. Since 9th June 2024, the following leaders have met the Leader of the opposition: Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on 10 June, 2024, Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Ching on 1 Aug 2024, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia on 21 August 2024, Prime Minister of Mauritius Navinchandra Ramgoolam on 16 September 2025 and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon on 8 March 2025."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister of Russia Andrei Belousov laid wreath at the National War Memorial in Delhi on Thursday.

The Russian Defence Minister will co-chair the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation ministerial meeting with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at Manekshaw Centre later today.

Putin's visit to India Live: People perform aarti, hold welcome march in Varanasi ahead of Putin's visit

Ahead of Putin's arrival in India, Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth received Defence Minister of Russia Andrei Belousov at Air Force Station, Palam in New Delhi.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan was also present.

The Russian Defence Minister will co-chair the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation ministerial meeting with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at Manekshaw Centre later today.

The Indian and Russian delegations are expected to discuss India's proposed free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, ANI reported.

On Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India, BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain says, "We salute Russia. Russia has stood with us at every turn, and Mr Putin is a friend of PM Modi; everyone saw that both were sitting together in one car in China. For the welcome of India's friend and PM Modi's friend, Mr Putin, Delhi is fully decked out and ready today."

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to Delhi on December 4–5 has cast an unavoidable spotlight on the capital’s deteriorating air quality, with the city gasping under “poor” to “very poor” pollution levels even as Moscow, from where he travelled, recorded “good” air through the day. Real-time air quality readings by AQI.in show Moscow’s AQI hovering between 32 and 35, indicating clean, low-pollution conditions with PM2.5 concentrations around 6–9 µg/m³. In sharp contrast, Delhi’s AQI was 299 (8am on Thursday), which means the air quality is “hazardous” right now, as winter conditions trapped pollutants close to the surface — making the capital resemble a gas chamber during one of the season’s worst smog phases. (Read More)

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believes Vladimir Putin wants to end the Ukraine war, despite talks between the Russian president and American negotiators ending without a deal. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner negotiated into the early hours with Putin in the Kremlin but reached no breakthrough for a settlement to end Europe's worst conflict since World War II. (Read More)

Russian President Vladimir Putin touches down in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a tightly packed, 28-hour state visit, his first trip to India since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. Across two days, he meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice, calls on President Droupadi Murmu, addresses a business gathering, and launches a new India channel of Russian broadcaster RT. (Read More)

As New Delhi prepares to host Vladimir Putin for a two-day state visit, his first since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022, several Western countries are covertly urging India to push the Russian President to end the war in the region. The Indian Express has reported that several envoys and officials of European countries have "privately" reached out to the government and "politely" urged New Delhi to convince Putin for a ceasefire. (Read More)

Russia’s state-backed Delo Group is in talks to develop terminals across India’s inland waterways and key ports, including Mormugao in Goa, through joint ventures with Indian public and private shipyards, three people aware of the matter told Mint. A formal agreement is expected after Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India later this week, according to the people cited. The plan marks a major attempt to expand Russia’s maritime footprint in the Indo-Pacific and deepen its role in India’s port and shipbuilding sector. (Read  More)

The shares of Indian defence companies were trading in green on December 4 as Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India to attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Analysts have noted that few of the major defence players will likely benefit as expectations for a defence pact between India and Russia remain high. (Read More)

Five-star hotels in New Delhi are witnessing a surge in their tariff and occupancy due to Russian president Vladimir Putin's visit to the national capital. A report by Times of India stated Putin will stay at ITC Maurya's 4,700-square-foot “grand presidential suite”. Top global dignitaries, such as US president Donald Trump and his predecessors Joe Biden and Bill Clinton, have earlier occupied this suite. Putin’s two-bedroom suite has a reception area, living room, study, 12-seater private dining room, mini-spa and a gymnasium, among other facilities. US presidents who have stayed in this hotel have loved its restaurants Bukhara and Dum-Pukht. (Read More)

More than six decades after Goa's liberation from Portuguese rule, the episode's international undercurrents continue to echo. As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India, renewed attention is falling on Moscow's often-overlooked support for New Delhi during the 1961 crisis. (Read More)

As Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit on December 4-5, Moneycontrol examines the trade ties, local-currency transactions, and crude oil cooperation between the two nations. Total merchandise trade between India and Russia was worth $68.7 billion in FY25, a growth of 5 percent on-year. But trade between India and Russia remains heavily skewed, with Indian exports at less than $5 billion annually, while imports stand at around $64 billion, largely driven by New Delhi’s purchases of crude oil from Moscow. (Read More)

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to New Delhi has prompted an extraordinary security operation involving both Indian and Russian agencies. The capital will see one of the highest levels of protective deployment for any visiting foreign leader in recent years. Putin will be in India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4 and 5, and both countries are treating his safety as a priority. (Read More)

India remains one of the world's largest arms importers, with Russia historically being a primary supplier. However, Delhi has increasingly prioritised domestic manufacturing. Russia's share in India's arms imports dropped from 76% in 2009-13 to 36% in 2019-23, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Media reports suggest Moscow may propose joint production of Russia's Su-57 fighter jets, adding another layer to the defence discussions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the supply of Russia's advanced S-400 air defence systems holds an "important place on the agenda". India currently has three S-400 units, while the delivery of two more-part of a 2018 agreement-remains stalled due to the Ukraine war and subsequent Western sanctions.

Beyond defence, trade relations are expected to feature prominently as Delhi navigates a delicate diplomatic balance - continuing strategic imports from Russia while trying to avoid provoking US President Donald Trump during ongoing tariff negotiations.

Putin is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight for a private dinner, followed by a summit meeting and a business engagement the next day.

The Russian president, making his first trip to India since the Ukraine conflict began, will arrive with a high-level delegation that includes Defence Minister Andrei Belousov. Media reports indicate that discussions may include a potential fighter jet deal.

Good morning and welcome to Moneycontrol. Today, we are tracking all the buzz around the crucial state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Stage is set for major deals and other discussions even as the American pressure on Russian oil trade remains. Stay with us for latest news, views, trivia and other key details of this trip.