Bhubaneswar, Dec. 4 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has departed for India, with his special flight scheduled to land in New Delhi around 4:30 PM IST, kicking off a two-day state visit for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

An agenda packed with high-stakes diplomacy awaits, in between a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after arrival, the visit is expected to feature formal talks, multiple inter-governmental agreements, and initiatives spanning trade, defence, economy, science and cultural cooperation- all under the framework of the special strategic partnership between the two nations.

At the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation ministerial meeting ...