When Vladimir Putin’s plane touches down in New Delhi this week, he will be met with the pomp and ceremony reserved for one of India’s most steadfast partners. Yet his host, Prime Narendra Modi, is simultaneously forging a deep strategic relationship with a key global rival: the United States.

India gave Russia's leader a warm welcome in his first visit since his country invaded Ukraine. The visit in part signaled India's defiance of the U.S., which has punished New Delhi for buying Russian oil.

By Ben Aris in Berlin Russian President Vladimir Putin has been focused on dealing with Russia’s demographic crisis from his first day on the job, but the population is still shrinking slowly. Now he is having another pushed at boosting the numbers and promoting “fatherhood” amongst Russians.

Ukraine’s top negotiator is scheduled on Thursday to meet in Florida with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, two days after the American's high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, according to a senior administration official.

Moscow finds itself even more dependent on China as war and sanctions curb artificial-intelligence efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting India to strengthen economic and bilateral ties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him in New Delhi.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would seize the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine “in any case,” including by military means, digging in on one of his key demands as Ukrainian officials prepare for more peace talks that have yet to yield a deal.

The 23rd Russia-India Summit will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, underlining the close personal relationship between the leaders and their countries’ longtime friendship.

Putin also claimed that Zelensky’s European allies have pushed for demands that are “absolutely unacceptable."

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that European claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to restore the Soviet Union were wrong and that claims Putin plans to invade a NATO member were complete stupidity.