23rd India-Russia annual summit: PM Modi, President Putin hold talks at Hyderabad House
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday for the 23rd Annual Summit between India and Russia. The talks are aimed at strengthening cooperation in key areas including defence, trade, energy, and economic engagement. The meeting is part of Putin’s two-day State visit to India, his first in four years.
Earlier in the day, President Putin paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, where he laid a wreath and signed the visitors’ book. He was accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.
Before the Rajghat visit, Putin was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, including a tri-services Guard of Honour. President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi received the Russian leader. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Delhi LG V. K. Saxena, CDS General Anil Chauhan, and senior officials from both sides were present. The Russian delegation included Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening, where PM Modi broke protocol to personally welcome him at the Palam Airport and accompanied him from the tarmac. The two leaders then travelled together to the Prime Minister’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. PM Modi presented Putin with a copy of the Bhagavad Gita in Russian, calling the scripture an inspiration for people worldwide.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said he was pleased to welcome Putin back to India after four years and described the India-Russia friendship as “time-tested.”
As part of his packed schedule, President Putin will attend a business event at Bharat Mandapam aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment. In the evening, he will attend a State banquet hosted by President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
