Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Thursday for the annual India-Russia bilateral summit that he will hold with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Putin was received at the airport by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. “Welcome to India, President Putin. Looking forward to our deliberations, which will further enhance India-Russia friendship,” PM Narendra Modi tweeted.

Later, Modi welcomed Putin with his trademark ‘bear hug’ at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. India and Russia are expected to sign 20 agreements following the 19th India-Russia Bilateral Summit to be held here today. This includes India’s purchase of four S-400 air defence missile systems from Russia at a cost of more than Rs 40,000 crore.

India is also planning to purchase 4 Krivak-class frigates from Russia. The Indian Defence Ministry had cleared $2.5 billion deal that was signed during President Putin’s visit to the country in October 2016. The first two ships will be built at the Goa shipyard and the remaining two will be acquired directly from Russia. India already operates six Talwar-class guided missile frigates which are the improved versions of the Krivak III-class (Project 1135) frigates deployed by the Russian Coast Guard.

This is the third meeting between Modi and Putin this year after the informal meeting in the Russian resort city of Sochi in May and a bilateral on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in South Africa.

The India-Russia bilateral relationship was elevated to Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in 2010.

After Japan, Russia is the only country with which India holds annual bilateral summits.

Modi-Putin Summit LIVE:

11:30 am: After the delegation level talks, President Putin and PM Modi will participate in a Russian-Indian business forum and meet with students of Russia’s Sirius educational center and a group of talented Indian children, reported TASS.

11:15 am: Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is a United States federal law which aims to punish Russia for its involvement in the wars in Ukraine, Syria and its alleged interference in the 2016 US Presidential election. According to this law, countries that purchase Russian weapons or do business with Kremlin will face sanctions as well.

11:00 am: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House. India risks US sanctions for buying Russian weaponry. Last month, the US had imposed financial sanctions on China for buying Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 air defence system.

10:45 am: According to Kremlin, both the countries are all set to sign a deal worth more than five billion dollars for the delivery of Russian S-400 missile systems to India.

10:30 am: Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House today at 11 am. President Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov.