India, Dec. 4 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received Russian President Vladimir Putin at Delhi's Palam airport on Thursday evening, with hugs, handshakes and big smiles. This marks the beginning of Putin's first visit to India in over four years.

Later, Putin is expected to have an official photo sessision and attend a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Russian leader is in India for the 23rd Annual India-Russia Summit, which will be held on Friday. This is Putin's first visit to India after the conflict in Ukraine began., on the invitation of PM Modi. The last time he visited the country was in December, 2021.

Russia's state-run broadcaster TASS had earlier reported that Putin departed for his state...