'Unexpected': Kremlin praises PM Modi's surprise airport welcome for President Putin

Shortly after President Vladimir Putin landed in Delhi and was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Kremlin on Thursday lauded the Indian leader’s surprise gesture of personally meeting the Russian leader at the Palam airport, calling it “warm and unexpected”

#WATCH | Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a hug as PM Modi receives President Putin, at the Palam Technical Airport in Delhi

President Putin is on a two-day State visit to India. He will hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with PM… pic.twitter.com/3Rvfnp1sDD

— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2025

According to Moscow officials, the Indian side had not informed them beforehand, making the moment particularly striking.

🚨🇮🇳🇷🇺Modi’s decision to meet Putin at the aircraft ramp was unexpected, and the Russian side had not been informed in advance - Kremlin https://t.co/wvhlaYQWmY pic.twitter.com/dOGq5oxUKp

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) December 4, 2025

In a statement, the Kremlin said, “Modi’s decision to meet Putin at the aircraft ramp was unexpected, and the Russian side had not been informed in advance.”

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The surprise welcome was seen as a warm and symbolic display of the close ties between the two leaders.

PM Modi set aside formal protocol to welcome President Putin, who is on a two-day State visit to India.

The two leaders shared a warm hug upon Putin’s arrival. After exchanging pleasantries, they travelled together in the same car to PM Modi’s residence for a private dinner.

The last time PM Modi and President Putin travelled in the same car was during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in China, a moment that quickly drew widespread attention and photos.

PM Modi had shared a photo of the rare carpool on X, captioning it: “After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful.”

Soon after President Putin’s arrival, PM Modi took to X, sharing his happiness at welcoming his “friend” and saying he looked forward to their interactions.

Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people.@KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/L7IORzRfV9

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025

“Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people,” PM Modi wrote.

India-Russia Annual Summit

On Friday, the two leaders will hold talks as part of the 23rd India-Russia Summit and discuss deepening economic cooperation, mainly in defence, energy and the mobility of skilled labor.

Putin’s visit comes at a sensitive time in global politics when there is a renewed push by the US on a peace deal to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end. The visit will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on.

According to the Associate Press, citing critics, while India has historically maintained deep ties with Russia. Putin’s visit could ruffle feathers among anti-Moscow nations and potentially jeopardise New Delhi’s negotiations for major trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, deals seen as critical for boosting India’s exports.

Putin last visited India in 2021. PM Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

With inputs from agencies