By Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin a two-day visit to India on Thursday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to host a private dinner shortly after his arrival in New Delhi. The 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit comes at a sensitive moment, as New Delhi faces punitive sanctions from the United States of America. Talks are expected to focus on strengthening defence ties, expanding trade, and deepening cooperation in the energy sector.
Ahead of the visit, Moscow approved a key defence agreement with New Delhi, setting the stage for substantial military discussions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has indicated that the possibility of supplying Su-57 fighter jets to India may also feature in the talks, according to PTI.
Putin’s India Visit: Key Details
- Putin is scheduled to land in New Delhi around 4:30 pm on Thursday. PM Modi will host him for a private dinner the same evening, mirroring the dinner Putin hosted for Modi during the latter’s visit to Moscow last year.
- The India–Russia Annual Summit will take place on Friday, December 5. This marks Putin’s first visit to India since the Ukraine conflict began. He will receive a ceremonial welcome before formal discussions, PTI reported.
- Modi will also host a working lunch for Putin and his delegation at Hyderabad House, the venue for the summit. Putin is expected to visit Rajghat earlier in the day.
- Key agenda items include safeguarding bilateral trade from US sanctions, exploring cooperation on small modular nuclear reactors, and expanding defence collaboration, as reported by Hindustan Times.
- Discussions may also touch upon India’s plan to procure fifth-generation fighter aircraft, including the Su-57.
- Several agreements are likely to be signed, including one enabling smoother movement of Indian workers to Russia. Talks may also cover India’s proposed free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
- After the summit, Putin will attend a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu and will launch the new India channel of Russia’s state-run broadcaster RT.
- The meeting is being viewed as an opportunity for India to reaffirm its strategic autonomy while strengthening defence and economic ties with Moscow.
- New Delhi also plans to raise concerns over the widening trade deficit, driven largely by heavy imports of Russian crude oil. The implications of US sanctions on India’s oil purchases are also expected to feature in the discussions.
- Putin is likely to brief Modi on the latest US-led efforts to negotiate an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to end the ongoing conflict.
