KO Special Correspondent

New Delhi ~ Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his first trip to India since the start of the Ukraine war nearly four years ago.

Modi personally received the Russian leader at the airport, underscoring the significance New Delhi attaches to the high-stakes diplomatic engagement.

Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior ministers and a large contingent of Russian business leaders. Over the next two days, the two sides are expected to push aggressively to deepen economic cooperation beyond their traditional defence and energy partnership.

The visit comes against the backdrop of India’s careful balancing act on the global stage. New

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