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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening, marking his first visit to India since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. His trip comes at a time when renewed U.S. efforts to resolve the conflict appear to have lost momentum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from standard protocol and personally received Putin at the airport, greeting him with one of his signature embraces on the tarmac.

Putin’s 30-hour whirlwind visit comes amid a visible strain in U.S.–India relations. Washington has recently imposed tariffs and even hinted at sanctions, reacting strongly to India’s enduring partnership with Moscow and its increased imports of Russian crude during the Ukraine war. These developments have further complicated New Delhi’s longstanding diplomatic balancing act between its traditional ties with Russia and its growing strategic engagement with the West.