Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin for a formal dinner at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Tuesday evening, marking a key moment in the Russian leader’s visit to India. The dinner followed several rounds of discussions earlier in the day, where both sides focused on defence cooperation, energy partnerships, nuclear projects, and long-term strategic ties.
The meeting comes at a time when global geopolitical tensions continue to reshape old alliances. New Delhi and Moscow, despite shifting international alignments, have maintained a decades-long partnership rooted in defence, space research, and energy security. Officials said the conversations between the two leaders remained “warm, direct, and forward-looking,” with special emphasis on expanding joint manufacturing under India’s self-reliance push and stabilising key supply chains.
Putin’s visit is being closely watched internationally, especially amid ongoing Western scrutiny of Russia’s foreign engagements. India has maintained that its foreign policy remains “strategic and independent,” and that strong ties with Moscow help ensure national security and diversify energy access.
The dinner at the Prime Minister’s residence included a select group of senior ministers and officials, creating an informal setting for the leaders to continue discussions beyond the structured agenda. Diplomatic sources say the atmosphere was “cordial and relaxed,” with both sides reaffirming commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across defence, trade, technology, and civil nuclear cooperation.
Earlier in the day, Putin was received with full ceremonial honours, followed by delegation-level talks that assessed progress on ongoing projects and explored new areas of collaboration.
As the visit continues, joint statements and new agreements are expected, with both governments signalling confidence that the India–Russia partnership will remain resilient and adaptive in an evolving global landscape.