New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will undertake a state visit to India on December 4–5 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
The MEA stated that Putin is visiting at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the trip, he will engage in bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister, while the President of India will host a banquet in his honour.
According to the official announcement, the summit will allow both nations’ leadership to review ongoing cooperation, outline priorities to enhance their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” and exchange views on regional and international matters of shared interest.
Putin’s visit has been anticipated since National Security Advisor Ajit Doval travelled to Moscow in August, though specific dates were not confirmed at the time. Modi and Putin also interacted during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in China earlier this year.
The visit comes amid a period of strong cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow, including in the energy and defence sectors. India has maintained that its purchase of Russian crude is guided by economic considerations and national interest.
During the summit, talks are expected to cover key areas such as defence ties, trade, energy collaboration, and regional security issues including developments in Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Preparations for the meeting are progressing on both sides.
Putin last travelled to India in December 2021 for the 21st edition of the leadership summit.
Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met President Putin in Moscow, conveying Prime Minister Modi’s greetings and updating him on arrangements for the upcoming event. Jaishankar later posted on X that they also discussed regional and global developments.
Prime Minister Modi recently reaffirmed India’s readiness to welcome Putin when he met Russian Presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev in New Delhi. Modi described their talks on maritime cooperation, connectivity, skill development, shipbuilding and the blue economy as productive.
