Putin India Visit Live Updates: Russian President To Pay Tribute At Rajghat Soon Ahead Of Key Bilateral With PM Modi

With Western pressure intensifying over the Ukraine conflict, India is expected to reaffirm its position calling for peaceful negotiations. Foreign ministry officials say New Delhi’s consistent message remains aligned with PM Modi’s stance that “today’s era is not of war.” Putin is also expected to brief Modi on the latest diplomatic contacts with the United States regarding conflict-resolution proposals.

Indian industry bodies, led by FICCI, see Putin’s visit as a crucial opportunity to push for manufacturing partnerships, energy security, and technology collaborations. On Thursday, FICCI President Anant Goenka highlighted the need for expanded defence co-production, mega electronics parks, increased R&D investment, and stronger supply-chain resilience between the two nations.

In an interview with India Today, Putin said his relationship with PM Modi rests on “professional understanding and personal trust.” He cited the prime minister’s approach of setting “very challenging tasks” for India’s administration, linking it to India’s economic rise and ambitious manufacturing targets. Referring to PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Putin said it has added “practical dimensions” to bilateral cooperation. “When we meet, he always says—let’s develop this sector, let’s work on that area,” he noted, adding that the two nations now share “a wide spectrum of real, functional collaborations.”

In an interview with India Today, aired shortly after his arrival, Putin questioned the US stance that India’s imports of discounted Russian crude “help finance the war”. He pointed out that the US and Europe still depend on billions of dollars worth of Russian commodities. “The United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us. That is also fuel,” he said. “If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India have the same privilege? We are ready to discuss this with President Trump.”

Putin’s visit comes at a sensitive geopolitical moment. India-US trade tensions are high following steep tariffs and sanctions linked to Russian oil purchases. Meanwhile, the West remains firm on pressure over the Ukraine war. India continues to call for “dialogue and diplomacy,” echoing PM Modi’s position that “this is not an era of war.” Putin is expected to brief PM Modi on recent US-Russia negotiations related to the Ukraine conflict.

The Russian House in New Delhi hosted a photo exhibition marking 25 years of military-technical cooperation, featuring images of Putin with successive Indian Prime Ministers and models of BrahMos, S-400 systems and Su-57 aircraft. Across the country, symbolic gestures continued, in Varanasi, groups held welcome marches and performed aarti to celebrate Putin’s arrival, describing Indo-Russian ties as “time-tested and symbiotic.”

The MEA has laid down strict guidelines for media covering the visit: Media representatives are required to reach venues at least one hour in advance; access to Rashtrapati Bhavan will be strictly restricted to those carrying valid PIB cards. Mobile phones are not allowed inside the premises. Access to Hyderabad House will be permitted only through an accreditation issued by the XP Division of the MEA.

The summit is expected to deliver a series of agreements across defence, energy, labour mobility and economic cooperation. Russian state agency TASS reported that the two sides have prepared over 10 intergovernmental documents and more than 15 commercial agreements for the summit. Russia has signaled readiness to import more Indian goods to re-balance trade flows.

Key focus areas include:

• Boosting defence supplies.
• Reducing India’s trade deficit with Russia.
• Labour mobility and economic cooperation
• Enhancing cooperation in small modular reactors, fertilisers, and long-term energy partnerships.
• Navigating US sanctions.

Russian leader's nearly 27-hour visit to New Delhi has assumed greater significance as it is taking place against the backdrop of rapid downturn in India-US relations. Officials on both sides are preparing a series of agreements covering industrial cooperation, innovation, mining, space, health, labour mobility and transport. A joint statement will also be issued.

Ahead of the visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the India–Russia relationship “is not just a standard set of diplomatic protocols and trade agreements, it’s much more important.”He added that New Delhi has maintained a “very friendly stand” towards Moscow despite global turbulence.

Addressing a virtual press briefing ahead of Putin’s arrival, Peskov said Moscow is fully aware of New Delhi’s concerns over the widening trade imbalance driven largely by India’s soaring imports of discounted Russian crude.“We understand India’s concerns about the trade deficit, and we are working with our Indian partners to fix this problem,” he said. 

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) led the effort to spruce up key corridors such as Rajpath, Ashoka Road, Sardar Patel Marg, and the roads around Hyderabad House. Fresh flower beds, ornamental plant arrangements, and seasonal blooms have been installed along roundabouts and media-facing junctions.

Several stretches, especially near Teen Murti, India Gate, C-Hexagon, and the ceremonial vista around Raisina Hill, have been decked up with lighting and decorative installations to welcome the Russian delegations.,

#WATCH | Delhi: Flex boards welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian national flags put up outside ITC Maurya.

President Putin is on a State visit to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. During the visit, he will hold talks with PM Modi. President… pic.twitter.com/kuJQCtm2xm, — ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2025

More than 5,000 police personnel, SWAT units, anti-drone systems, snipers, and multi-layer route protection have been deployed with a heavy security blanket over the national capital. Monitoring capacity has been increased with AI-driven surveillance cameras, facial recognition systems, and drone countermeasures at key areas. 

The first two layers of security involve Russian personnel themselves. Snipers from the Indian security forces have taken up positions on rooftops near summit venues. The third layer of security is provided by the NSG and SPG forces, which normally guard the Indian Prime Minister, for tactical support and rapid-response capability.

Putin’s official programme begins this morning with a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 11 am. He will then lay a wreath at Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

The key bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled at Hyderabad House at 11:50 am. Both leaders are expected to take up a wide range of regional and global issues, with a strong focus on defence cooperation, energy ties, strategic coordination, and long-term economic partnership. Joint press statements are planned for 1:50 pm.

Later in the day, Putin will address a business event at 3:40 pm before meeting President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the evening. A state banquet will be hosted in his honour.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reached New Delhi on Thursday evening and received a warm and rare personal reception from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Palam Air Force Station. As per FlightRadar24, Putin's aircraft was the most tracked flight in the world, highlighting worldwide focus on the high-stakes visit.

PM Modi and Putin exchanged a warm embrace on the red carpet before driving together in the same official car. The Russian leader is on a tightly packed 27-hour visit for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, his first trip to India since the start of the Ukraine war nearly four years ago.