Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in India today (December 6) to hold the 21st annual India-Russia summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in November 2019.Vladimir Putin decided to go ahead with the visit despite the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron which has affected the schedule of several bilateral and international summits.During the summit, India and Russia are set to ink a raft of pacts to further boost cooperation in key areas of defence, trade and investment, energy and technology. The annual summit is a time for both leaders to recalibrate the long-stand relationship.Before the annual summit, India and Russia will also hold the first 2+2 dialogue which is to be held at the level of the foreign and defence ministers.In the summit as well as in the inaugural ‘2+2’ defence and foreign ministerial talks, the two sides are also expected to focus on the situation in Afghanistan and the rising threat of terrorism including from groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.It is learned that the joint statement to be issued after the summit is likely to reflect India’s concerns over cross-border terrorism and the security implications arising out of the Afghan crisis.While Putin will arrive in Delhi on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu are reaching on Sunday night.According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PM Modi and President Putin will begin the summit talks at 5:30 pm and the Russian leader will emplane from Delhi at 9:30 pm.Ahead of the summit, India has cleared the long-pending AK 203 Kalashnikov rifles deal worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore for production of over five lakh such rifles at Korwa in Amethi by an Indo-Russian joint venture.The two sides are also likely to wrap up the final phase of negotiations for a logistics support agreement, which is likely to be signed either during the two-plus-two talks or at the summit.In reflection of their time-tested defence ties, India and Russia are also set to renew for the next decade a framework for military-technical cooperation at the summit besides announcing a joint commission on technology and science.The two sides may also firm up a number of defence procurement proposals besides deliberating on the long-pending project for joint production of 200 twin-engine Kamov-226T light helicopters for Indian armed forces.According to sources, India is likely to apprise the Russian side about its position on the eastern Ladakh border row as well as its concerns over various regional developments.Asked about any possible Russian role in resolving the row, the sources said India always believed in bilaterally addressing issues.The sources said President Putin’s decision to visit India notwithstanding the current COVID-19 situation in Russia reflected the importance he attaches to the relationship with India.”December 6 will be a full Russia Day,” said a source referring to back-to-back important meetings.The day will begin with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s talks with his Russian counterpart Shoygu under the framework of the India-
