Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day state visit that would further expand a nearly eight-decade India-Russia partnership that withstood a fractured geopolitical environment and the recent downturn in ties with the US.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a private dinner for Putin this evening, signalling the political weight both sides are placing on the engagement and their ties and setting the tone for the 23rd India-Russia summit talks on Friday

Boosting defence ties, insulating India-Russia trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors are set to be the focus of the summit meeting between the two leaders that is expected to be closely watched by Western capitals.

Following the summit, the two si

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