Russian President Vladimir Putin lands in Delhi this evening for a crucial two-day state visit, his first trip to India since the Ukraine war and the first since 2021. The visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as both nations celebrate 25 years of the India-Russia strategic partnership along with the 23rd bilateral summit. The leaders last met during the SCO Summit in Tianjin on September 1, and this visit is expected to see multiple agreements aimed at strengthening long-standing cooperation across defence, trade, energy and technology.
Putin is accompanied by several top officials, including Russia’s Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, and Transport Minister Roman Nikitin. Soon after arrival, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to host a private dinner for Putin as the two sides prepare for detailed diplomatic discussions. On the second day, Putin will meet the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan before visiting Rajghat to pay tribute, followed by formal talks at Hyderabad House where key MoUs are expected to be signed. President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet for the Russian leader on Friday evening.
Defence cooperation is expected to dominate the summit. Russia will push discussions on upgraded BrahMos variants, hypersonic missile projects and long-range air-to-air systems. Talks on pending S-400 deliveries will continue, and Russia is expected to present proposals for the next-generation S-500 air defence system. If approved, this could mark a significant boost in India’s long-range air shield capability. Discussions are also likely around deeper participation in the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter programme and ongoing maintenance issues for Russian-origin equipment.
A separate meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart will address critical concerns such as Sukhoi-30 upgrades, timely spares supply, and submarine leasing delays. India is expected to push for faster delivery commitments as several systems have faced long maintenance gaps. Trade is also a key pillar of the summit. Bilateral trade is projected to reach USD 63.6 billion in 2024, and both sides plan to adopt a new cooperation programme till 2030 with focus areas in agriculture, energy, media, finance and technology. Russia aims to propose mechanisms to reduce trade imbalance, while both nations will also participate in the India–Russia Business Forum to promote new investment pathways and manufacturing partnerships under Make in India.
Delhi is under tight security with over 5,000 police personnel, anti-terror units, snipers and anti-drone systems deployed across sensitive zones. High-definition surveillance and route monitoring have been activated, and traffic restrictions are likely near VVIP movement areas. All movement schedules for the Russian president are being monitored minute-to-minute due to high security protocols. With BrahMos upgrades, S-500 talks, major defence deals and trade negotiations planned, this visit signals a powerful push to deepen India-Russia relations ahead of India taking over BRICS chairmanship in 2026.
