The BRICS TimesDuring his tightly packed itinerary, Putin will hold the 23rd India-Russia summit with PM Modi. Modi will also host a private dinner for Putin on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set for his important India visit on Thursday. He will hold crucial meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit aims to strengthen the eight-decade-long ties with New Delhi. President Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi at around 6:35 pm on Thursday. This marks his first trip to India in over four years.
Key Discussions and Itinerary
The total engagement will last for a tightly packed 27 hours. It includes meetings with PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. This visit holds great importance for the time-tested partners. Both sides will likely discuss trade, crude oil, and new defence agreements.
During his stay, Putin will attend a private dinner with PM Modi. He will also receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will visit Rajghat on Friday morning. The world is watching this Delhi trip closely, especially Western capitals. Preparations are in full swing for a truly grand welcome for the Russian president.
‘Aarti’, Art, and a Display of Friendship
The ritual welcome and preparations are not limited just to Delhi. In Varanasi, some residents performed a ritual ‘aarti’ for a framed portrait of the Russian leader.
A group also held an “India-Russia Friendship March” in Varanasi to welcome Putin. The march started from Subhash Bhavan. It ended at the Munshi Premchand Smriti Gate. Participants carried posters of PM Modi and Putin. They raised slogans like “Bharat-Russia sambandh zindabad”. They also shouted “Bharat-Russia ki dosti” and “World needs India-Russia friendship”.
In Amritsar, Jagjot Singh, a painter, showed his respect with a portrait. He drew the Russian leader using acrylic colours.
Meanwhile, in Puri, Odisha, a famous sand artist created a special display. Internationally-acclaimed artist Manas Kumar Sahoo made a sand animation of Putin. This marked his official visit to India.
Agenda of Putin’s Visit
Putin will hold the 23rd India-Russia summit with Prime Minister Modi. The agenda focuses on boosting several key areas. These include defence cooperation, energy ties, and small modular reactors. They will also discuss the impact of Western sanctions on oil trade.
PM Modi will host a private dinner for Putin on Thursday. He will also host a working luncheon on Friday. The Russian leader is scheduled to visit Rajghat as well. He will attend a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Both nations are set to ink several agreements. These cover trade, defence, and labour mobility. This happens amid global focus on the Ukraine conflict. India continues to call for dialogue and diplomacy.
Akshay Didwaniya
