Saturday, March 29, 2025
New Delhi, December 5, 2025:
Russian President Vladimir Putin enters the second and final day of his India visit with a packed schedule, ranging from ceremonial events to high-stakes diplomatic talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening to an exceptional welcome, with PM Modi personally receiving him at the airport, followed by a private dinner hosted at the Prime Minister’s residence.
The warm reception and visible camaraderie between the two leaders have drawn global attention, especially at a time when geopolitical dynamics are shifting rapidly. Here is a detailed look at Putin’s minute-by-minute schedule for Friday.
Putin begins the day with an official reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the tri-services will present a Guard of Honour. This marks the formal start of the second day of his state visit.
Following the ceremony, Putin will travel to Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi, a traditional and symbolic gesture for visiting global leaders.
Putin and PM Modi will hold both bilateral and delegation-level discussions at Hyderabad House. Key business leaders are also expected to participate.
Major areas of focus include:
Strengthening defence cooperation
Protecting bilateral trade from external pressures
Exploring collaboration on small modular nuclear reactors
Reviewing progress on ongoing energy partnerships
Western countries are expected to watch these talks closely.
Prime Minister Modi will host a formal luncheon for the Russian president and his delegation at Hyderabad House.
Both leaders will attend a major business summit jointly organized by FICCI and Russia’s Roscongress. Discussions will centre on boosting bilateral trade, technology cooperation, and investment flows.
After the summit, Putin will unveil a new India-focused channel by Russia’s state broadcaster — an initiative aimed at strengthening public diplomacy and media cooperation.
In the evening, President Droupadi Murmu will host a grand state banquet in Putin’s honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
After nearly 28 hours in India, Putin is expected to depart for Moscow around 9 PM.
Several major deals are likely to be finalized during the 23rd Annual Summit, including agreements in trade, defence, energy, climate cooperation, disaster management, and education.
India is reportedly considering a new batch of S-400 air defence systems.
Discussions may include:
Possible acquisition of Russia’s next-generation S-500 missile defence system
Supply prospects for Sukhoi-57 fighter jets
Upgrades for India’s existing Sukhoi-30 fleet
Additional military hardware collaborations
Creating a system for rupee-ruble trade to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar
Expanding Indian exports to Russia
Addressing India’s widening trade deficit caused largely by large-scale imports of Russian crude oil
Evaluating the impact of U.S. sanctions on India’s purchases of Russian oil
A major pact allowing up to 1 million skilled Indian professionals to work in Russia may also be signed.
Putin’s visit comes at a sensitive moment, with the U.S. attempting to revive efforts to end the Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, India–U.S. relations are experiencing heightened friction after the United States imposed heavy tariffs — including a 25% duty on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.
