Under agreements signed during Putin’s era, India and Russia formalised a framework for joint military-technical cooperation. Through this, major Russian-origin weapons, jets, missiles, helicopters and more, began being produced or assembled in India under licence or joint ventures.

Under agreements signed during Putin’s era, India and Russia formalised a framework for joint military-technical cooperation. Through this, major Russian-origin weapons, jets, missiles, helicopters and more, began being produced or assembled in India under licence or joint ventures.

From discount on oil to nuclear submarines! 10 things Vladimir Putin has done for India

ITC Maurya’s design draws inspiration from India’s ancient Mauryan dynasty, echoing grandeur and heritage architecture, while offering modern amenities expected in top-tier international hotels.

ITC Maurya’s design draws inspiration from India’s ancient Mauryan dynasty, echoing grandeur and heritage architecture, while offering modern amenities expected in top-tier international hotels.

'Behind the gold doors': The untold story of Delhi’s ITC Maurya where Russian President will stay

The aircraft carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi, India, was the most tracked flight in the world on Thursday, said global aircraft tracker Flight Radar 24. “Our most tracked flight now: one of the Russian government aircraft en route to India. Russian President Putin and Indian PM Modi are scheduled to meet over two days in Delhi,” the aircraft tracker said in a post on X and its website.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our most tracked flight now: one of the Russian government aircraft en route to India. Russian President Putin and Indian PM Modi are scheduled to meet over two days in Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/Q5GikRN1Vd">https://t.co/Q5GikRN1Vd</a> <a href="https://t.co/DcbA9wFYrF">pic.twitter.com/DcbA9wFYrF</a>&mdash; Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) <a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1996498859758145814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;President Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening and was personally received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport in a gesture of friendship and goodwill. The two leaders will discuss a range of matters, from defence to trade.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with a smile, a handshake, and a warm hug. The two leaders then travelled in the same car as they headed to PM Modi’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, for a private dinner.&nbsp;After the grand welcome, the Russian president's office said in a post on social media that PM Modi’s decision to greet Putin at the aircraft ramp was unexpected, and the Russian president was not informed in advance about it.&nbsp;The two leaders will hold delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House on Friday morning before issuing press statements around 1.50 pm.&nbsp;Flight Radar 24 said that two aircraft were spotted earlier. While one turned off its transponder, the other turned it on, and the cycle continued. A transponder sends aircraft coordinates and other key flight information to air traffic controllers.&nbsp;As one of the world’s most heavily protected leaders, Putin rarely travels without two symbols of Russian state power: his Aurus Senat armoured limousine and his highly customised presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, widely known as the “Flying Kremlin”.&nbsp;The “Flying Kremlin” is a modified version of the IL-96-300, a long-range, four-engine Russian airliner developed in the 1980s by the Ilyushin Design Bureau. It first flew on September 28, 1988, and entered service in the early 1990s.

As one of the world’s most heavily protected leaders, Putin rarely travels without two symbols of Russian state power: his Aurus Senat armoured limousine and his highly customised presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, widely known as the “Flying Kremlin”.

The aircraft carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi, India, was the most tracked flight in the world on Thursday, said global aircraft tracker Flight Radar 24. “Our most tracked flight now: one of the Russian government aircraft en route to India. Russian President Putin and Indian PM Modi are scheduled to meet over two days in Delhi,” the aircraft tracker said in a post on X and its website.

As one of the world’s most heavily protected leaders, Putin rarely travels without two symbols of Russian state power: his Aurus Senat armoured limousine and his highly customised presidential aircraft, the Ilyushin IL-96-300PU, widely known as the “Flying Kremlin”.

Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for the first time since 2021 on Thursday evening (Dec 4). He was grandly welcomed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a warm hug, handshake and smile. Along with PM Modi, Putin was also welcomed by a troupe of women with an Indian classical dance, following which both leaders departed New Delhi’s Palam Air Base together in the same car.<h2>Watch the video here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs Vladimir Putin as the Russian president arrives in India on 2-day historic visit <a href="https://t.co/PIV9PRfN9C">pic.twitter.com/PIV9PRfN9C</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1996577152142282777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After Putin's grand welcome, the Russian president's office said in a post on social media that PM Modi’s decision to meet him at the aircraft ramp was unexpected, and the Russian president was not informed in advance about it.&nbsp;His arrival in New Delhi, his first major visit after travelling to the US and China, and his first to India since the Ukraine war upended Russia’s global standing, carries far more weight than its ceremonial packaging.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 23rd India-Russia annual summit is not just a bilateral meeting but also a geopolitical signal, a strategic recalibration, and a diplomatic test for India in a world that has become increasingly bipolar.<h3>India releases FULL itinerary of Putin's visit:</h3>Friday - December 5, 2025 - 11:00 hoursCeremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -11:30 hours Wreath Laying at Rajghat Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 - 11:50 hours Meeting with the Prime Minister at Hyderabad House Photo Op: AV Media&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -13:50 hours Press Statements at Hyderabad House Photo Op: All Media&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -15:40 hours Business Event Venue: TBC&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -19:00 hours Meeting with the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan Photo Op: Official Only&nbsp;Friday - December 5, 2025 -21:00 hours Departure from Delhi

Russian President Vladimir Putin was also welcomed by a troupe of women with an Indian classical dance, following which both leaders departed New Delhi’s Palam Air Base together in the same car.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for the first time since 2021 on Thursday evening (Dec 4). He was grandly welcomed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a warm hug, handshake and smile. Along with PM Modi, Putin was also welcomed by a troupe of women with an Indian classical dance, following which both leaders departed New Delhi’s Palam Air Base together in the same car. Watch the video here

Russian President Vladimir Putin was also welcomed by a troupe of women with an Indian classical dance, following which both leaders left New Delhi’s Palam Air Base together in the same car for a private dinner at the PM's residence

WATCH | Modi, Putin hug as Indian PM receives Russian president with a red carpet

Vladimir Putin has visited India five times since 2000 as President of Russia, mostly for the annual India–Russia summit mechanism, usually alternating with an Indian Prime Ministerial visit to Russia. Here's the list of all the visits of Putin to India ever since he became President.

Vladimir Putin has visited India five times since 2000 as President of Russia, mostly for the annual India–Russia summit mechanism, usually alternating with an Indian Prime Ministerial visit to Russia. Here's the list of all the visits of Putin to India ever since he became President.

All the times Vladimir Putin visited India as Russian President