On the evening of 4 December 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi for a two-day state visit, his first since the war in Ukraine began in 2022.
In a rare and striking gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received President Putin at the Palam airport. Before boarding the vehicle, the two leaders exchanged a warm handshake and an embrace, a departure from the more formal protocol often associated with such diplomatic arrivals.
PM Modi personally greets and hugs Russia’s Vladimir Putin as he lands in Delhi
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) December 4, 2025
pic.twitter.com/2zjB34gUgY
Observers noted that this informal welcome, a personal hug and shared ride, seemed to have surprised even the Russian delegation. Commentators said the gesture underscored a deeper personal rapport between the two, beyond formalities.
Following the airport reception, Modi and Putin left together in the same car, reportedly a Toyota SUV often used by the Indian leader. This “car-pool diplomacy” echoes a similar moment earlier this year: in September 2025, during a summit in China, Putin had offered Modi a ride in his own official car. That too was widely seen as a symbolic statement of friendship and solidarity.
After the airport reception, President Putin was slated to attend a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi at his official residence later tonight. Over the next two days, the two leaders are scheduled to engage in formal talks as part of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.
The agenda reportedly spans trade, economic cooperation, defence, energy, and broader global and regional issues. With trade ties recently expanding and institutional mechanisms such as the India–Russia Intergovernmental Commission (IRIGC) and related cooperation forums in place, expectations are high for concrete agreements or steps toward deeper collaboration in multiple sectors.
