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Modi personally receives Russian President in rare gesture
The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership agreement signed in 2000.
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Anushka Pathak - Thu, 04, Dec 2025
- 16:15 EST
- 20
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin / Courtesy: @narendramodi via ‘X’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received Russian President Vladimir Putin at New Delhi’s Palam Air Base on Dec. 4, marking a significant moment that underscores the strong personal connection between the two leaders.
President Putin, arriving for a two-day official visit—his first to India since 2021—was greeted by Prime Minister Modi on the tarmac, a departure from standard practice where visiting heads of state are usually received by junior ministers or officials at the airport.
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The ceremonial welcome included a tri-service guard of honor. The two leaders shared a warm embrace before travelling together in the same car as they departed from the airport.
Prime Minister Modi posted on X shortly after the arrival, "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."
Modi hosted the Russian leader for a private dinner at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, on Dec. 4, during which he presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to the President.
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.@KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/L7IORzRfV9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025
The two leaders are scheduled to hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, scheduled for Dec. 5, and other high-level engagements, including defense and business dialogues.
The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership agreement signed in 2000 and comes amid robust bilateral trade, which crossed US$70 billion in fiscal year 2024-25, largely driven by energy imports.
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