Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi on Thursday brings a detailed and tightly planned itinerary that places trade, defence and long-term cooperation at the centre of his engagements with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This is his first trip to India since the Russia-Ukraine War began almost four years ago.
The visit comes at a moment when India’s relations with the US have entered a difficult phase, adding further weight to a schedule designed to advance bilateral projects and reinforce a long-standing strategic partnership.
Schedule shaped around summit talks
Putin’s arrival at the Palam Air Force Station is expected at around 6:35 PM on Thursday, where he will take part in an official photo session before attending a private dinner hosted by PM Modi.
His place of stay has not been disclosed due to security reasons.
The core of the visit is the 23rd India-Russia Summit, planned for Friday.
Several agreements are set to be signed, covering trade, the economy, healthcare, academic collaboration, culture and media.
One of the key documents under preparation is the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of Russian Indian Economic Cooperation until 2030, which is positioned to guide long-term engagement.
Sequence of official ceremonies
The formal events on Friday begin at 11:00 AM at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, where President Droupadi Murmu will host a ceremonial reception for Putin.
At around 11:30 AM, he will travel to Rajghat to lay a wreath in honour of Mahatma Gandhi.
By 11:50 AM, Putin is scheduled to reach Hyderabad House for summit discussions with PM Modi.
The meeting is expected to run for a couple of hours, allowing the two leaders to review progress on existing partnerships and assess future cooperation across priority sectors.
Political backdrop to the meetings
PM Modi and President Putin last met on September 1 this year during the SCO Heads of State Council Meeting in Tianjin, China.
They have also held five telephone conversations in 2025, reflecting sustained engagement despite ongoing global tensions.
The visit comes against a wider political context marked by a downturn in India’s ties with the US.
For India, continued cooperation with Russia remains significant for defence supplies, energy needs and broader balancing in global affairs.
For Russia, the trip signals active engagement with Asian partners and a focus on maintaining economic and diplomatic channels outside the Western sphere.
Events following the summit
Once the summit concludes, press statements are scheduled at Hyderabad House at 1:50 PM.
Later in the afternoon, Putin will attend a business event at approximately 3:40 PM.
The final engagement of the visit takes place at around 7 PM, when Putin will return to the Rashtrapati Bhawan for a meeting with President Murmu.
