Russian President Vladimir Putin was born on 7 October 1952. He has been the president of Russia since 2012. Earlier, he also served as President from 2000 until 2008. He has also served as the prime minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012. In February 2022, President Putin ordered a full invasion of Ukraine under the pretext that it was run by ‘Nazis’. The invasion of Ukraine led to worldwide condemnation of Putin, and massive sanctions on the Russian Federation. However, this is not the first time Putin has tried to invade Ukraine. Earlier in 2014, Russia launched a military intervention in Ukraine and seized the eastern region of the nation and annexed Crimea. The takeover of Crimea led to GDP shrinking by 3.7 percent in 2015, however the economy rebounded in 2016 with 0.3 percent GDP growth. During his first tenure as a president, the economy grew for eight consecutive years with GDP measured by purchasing power increasing by 72 percent. This growth was a result of a fivefold increase in the price of oil and gas, which constitute the majority of Russian exports. On March 7 2022, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told news channels that they are talking to European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil, while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil on world markets. On its part, Russia too warned that a Western ban on its oil imports may more than double the price to $300 and prompt the closure of the main gas pipeline to Germany. Putin's rule in Russia has been characterised by endemic corruption, the jailing and repression of political opponents, the intimidation and suppression of media freedom in Russia, and a lack of free and fair elections. Russia has scored poorly on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index, and Freedom House's Freedom in the World index. In his earlier days, he worked as a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years and resigned in 1991 to begin a political career in Saint Petersburg. In 1996, Putin moved to Moscow to join the administration of the then President Boris Yeltsin. After Yeltsin’s resignation, Putin became acting president. Putin has also served as director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and secretary of the Security Council. More
Moscow would retain a legal claim on the assets, however, which has left Belgium anxious that it could face repercussions.
A 2009 clip of Vladimir Putin publicly berating billionaire Oleg Deripaska over unpaid workers is circulating again, shared by Indian users who say IndiGo’s bosses deserve similar treatment after days of mass flight cancellations, exhausted crews, and stranded passengers nationwide.
Luiza Rozova, widely rumoured to be Vladimir Putin’s secret daughter, has publicly said she is “really sorry” for Russia’s war in Ukraine after a powerful street confrontation with a Ukrainian journalist in Paris, bringing rare, uncomfortable attention to the Russian leader’s private family.
Visiting India, Vladimir Putin paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, praising his legacy of peace and a multipolar world, as India and Russia advanced economic cooperation at their summit.
China, a close ally of Russia, is yet to officially comment on Putin's visit to India, while keeping a close watch on the outcome.
The 23rd India-Russia annual summit drew considerable international attention, with both leaders signaling their determination to inject new energy into a relationship that dates back more than 80 years.
The pact comes as Russia faces a major labour shortage. Birth rates are the lowest in 200 years, the population has dipped slightly, and many young men have left the country since 300,000 reservists were mobilised for the Ukraine war.
Vladimir Putin’s arrival in India happened on the same day that the Russian state-owned atomic corporation Rosatom delivered the first batch of nuclear fuel for Unit 3 of Kudankulam.
The quip came while Putin was speaking about the steady flow of Russian crude to India despite global political disruptions and sanctions pressure.
After completing medical studies, Abhay Singh briefly practiced as a doctor in Patna, but soon returned to Russia where he built a pharmaceutical business and later expanded into real estate.
Under-penetrated product categories, from smartphones to chemicals and agri-goods, offer at least $5 billion in additional export headroom.
PM Modi's remarks came just hours after Pakistan concentrated unprecedented military power in the hands of Asim Munir, appointing him as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) alongside his existing role as Army Chief.
The Russian President's remarks come at a time when Western nations have repeatedly criticised India’s rising energy trade with Russia, alleging that revenues from these sales help Moscow fund its war effort in Ukraine.
New details emerging from Russian state media highlight the extreme defensive features of President Vladimir Putin’s official car, including the ability to stay afloat if it plunges into water and a specialised air-filtration system designed to guard against chemical or biological threats.
US President Donald Trump said recent talks with Vladimir Putin gave the “impression” Russia wants peace, while Putin stressed Moscow will not compromise security and criticised Zelensky’s leadership approach.
Chinese expert Li Haidong said India–Russia relations remain “highly strategic” and resilient amid global geopolitical turbulence, with Putin’s visit to New Delhi reaffirming the strength of bilateral cooperation across defence, trade, and technology.
The outbreak of war in Ukraine and Russia’s isolation by the West created an opportunity for enhanced cooperation with India. That was seized and notwithstanding Trump’s threats, bilateral ties are set to deepen
According to Flight Radar 24, more than 20,000 people were tracking the flight live.
Putin’s remarks come at a time when the US has imposed additional duties on Indian goods and expressed concern about New Delhi’s deep energy and defence ties with Moscow.
PM Modi highlighted India-Russia friendship and said it is "time tested one".
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.
The car ride together at the SCO Summit was a visual statement at a time when US President Donald Trump announced a tariff onslaught against New Delhi's oil trade with Moscow.
Putin’s arrival marks his first visit to India since 2021, ahead of a two-day State visit that includes the 23rd India–Russia Summit and a State banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Over the years, ITC Maurya has hosted prominent personalities such as the Dalai Lama, former US presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The meetings are expected to focus on trade diversification, market access, and new agreements across shipping, healthcare, fertilisers, and connectivity.