New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India begins today, Thursday, December 4th. According to reports, Putin will arrive in New Delhi this evening, where he will receive a grand welcome. Sources indicate that several ministers are accompanying him. During his visit, Putin will hold bilateral talks with PM Modi. The leaders of both countries will also sign several trade agreements. Putin is also attending the 23rd India-Russia Summit.
Russian President Putin is expected to arrive in New Delhi around 4:30 pm on Thursday. A few hours later, PM Modi will host a private dinner for him. This dinner will be held just hours after his arrival in Delhi. This dinner will be aimed at strengthening the overall strategic and economic partnership between the two countries, amidst strained relations between India and the United States. This will be followed by a meeting between PM Modi and Putin on Friday, focusing on enhancing defense ties between the two countries, protecting India-Russia businesses from external pressure, and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors. Western countries are also expected to be watching. The Russian leader is visiting India amid renewed US efforts to end the war in Ukraine, so this issue is expected to be particularly highlighted at the summit. On Friday, Putin will receive an official welcome ahead of the 23rd India-Russia Summit. He will then visit Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
Following the summit, Putin will launch the new India channel of Russia’s state broadcaster, followed by a banquet hosted by President Draupadi Murmu. The Russian leader is expected to depart India around 9:30 pm on Friday, concluding his approximately 28-hour visit. Russian President Putin’s visit to India comes at a time when India-US relations are experiencing perhaps their worst phase in the past two decades. US President Donald Trump has imposed a massive 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, including a 25 percent tax on the purchase of Russian crude oil.
The summit is likely to discuss the impact of the US ban on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. Earlier on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that India’s crude oil purchases from Russia may be reduced for “some time” due to the Western sanctions, but added that Moscow is taking steps to increase supplies.
At the summit, Putin is expected to brief Modi on America’s renewed efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Regarding the three-year-long war between Ukraine and Russia, India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to end the conflict. Following the Modi-Putin talks, several agreements are expected to be signed between the two sides, including one on facilitating the movement of Indian workers to Russia and another on logistical support within the broader framework of defense cooperation. Sources indicate that Indian exports to Russia are expected to significantly increase in the areas of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food products, and consumer goods. This move comes amid India’s concerns about a growing trade deficit in Russia’s favor.
Ahead of the summit, bilateral ministers from both countries will hold talks on Thursday, with the focus expected to be on India’s plans to purchase S-400 missile systems and other critical defense equipment from Russia. The S-400 missile systems proved highly effective during Operation Sindoor. Top military officials stated that the focus will be on further enhancing the already close defense and security ties between the two countries, with a particular focus on ensuring rapid supplies of defense equipment from Russia to India.
Earlier in October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to purchase five units of the S-400 air defence missile system, even as the US warned that going ahead with the contract could lead to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
