Russian President Putin receives guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Russian President Vladimir Putin received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday, marking the start of a packed day of high-stakes diplomatic engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him at the forecourt, where the leaders exchanged greetings before proceeding to formal engagements.

Putin arrived in the capital on Thursday evening and was accorded full state honours during the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The visit, the first by Putin to India in four years, will include the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, high-level defence and energy talks, and the signing of a long-term strategic economic 2030 roadmap agreement .

Following the welcome, he is scheduled to visit Rajghat to pay homage at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, a customary gesture for visiting heads of state.

On Thursday night, PM Modi hosted a private dinner for the Russian President, mirroring the hospitality extended by Putin during Modi’s visit to Moscow in July 2024.

The centrepiece of the visit will be the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit at Hyderabad House.

Prime Minister Modi is also set to host a working lunch for the visiting leader and his delegation.

Defence cooperation is expected to take precedence during the talks, with India likely to press for faster delivery of pending military hardware, including systems delayed since the onset of the Ukraine conflict.

India is expected to press for expedited delivery of pending military hardware, particularly given delays in certain platforms since the war in Ukraine began.

Key discussions are expected to include additional S-400 air defence systems. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday confirmed that the Russian stealth bomber Su-57 is certainly on the agenda during the summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“SU- 57 is the best plane in the world. SU57 will be on the agenda,” Peskov said, offering a glimpse into top level talks between the two leaders.

The talks on Russian stealth bomber Su-57 is on the table on Putin’s arrival even as talks on acquiring American stealth F-35 fighter continues runs in rough weather after US punitive trade sanctions on India and with New Delhi now firm on getting full control of avionics and its domestic production.

India signed a USD 5 billion deal in 2018 for five S-400 units, of which three squadrons have been delivered and two more are expected by mid-next year. The systems were reportedly used effectively during Operation Sindoor.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said talks may also cover India’s interest in Su-57 fifth-generation fighters, as India evaluates next-generation platforms including the Rafale, F-21, F/A-18, and Eurofighter Typhoon.

Energy security will feature prominently, with US sanctions on Russian crude expected to be a key topic. Peskov noted that India’s imports may decline “for a brief period,” though Russia is making efforts to sustain supplies.

Putin’s visit comes amid recent India-US tensions, including tariffs on Indian goods and levies linked to India’s procurement of Russian crude.

President Putin is also expected to discuss with PM Modi on the latest US diplomatic initiatives regarding the Ukraine conflict. India has maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are the only path forward while positioning itself as a potential mediator.