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Vladimir Putin India Visit: Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India around December 5 for the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These talks are expected to further strengthen bilateral strategic relations, sources said on Wednesday. Preparations for the visit are underway, but it is not yet clear whether the Russian President will visit India for a day or spend two days in India. Prior to Putin's visit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to India next month to finalize the details of the President's visit. The Russian President last visited New Delhi in 2021. Defense and Security Cooperation to be Discussed Sources said that before Putin's visit, a meeting is expected between the two sides under the framework of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC). At the India-Russia Annual Summit, PM Modi and Putin are expected to discuss further expanding the "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" between the two countries. Sources said the talks could focus on strengthening cooperation in the areas of defense and security, trade, and energy. India and Russia have held 22 annual summits. India and Russia have an arrangement under which the Indian Prime Minister and the Russian President hold an annual summit to review relations. To date, India and Russia have held 22 annual summits. In July last year, Prime Minister Modi visited Moscow for the annual summit. It is understood that India may also consider purchasing additional batches of S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia, as these weapons played a key role during Operation Sindoor. PM Modi and Putin met in China. A month ago, Prime Minister Modi and President Putin held talks in Tianjin, China, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) annual summit. During the talks, both sides pledged to strengthen their strategic ties. This meeting between Modi and Putin came just days after the US doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, including an additional 25 percent duty on India for purchasing crude oil from Russia. The Ukraine conflict may also be discussed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that close cooperation between the two countries is important not only for the people of both countries but also for global peace, stability, and prosperity. The two leaders are also expected to discuss the Ukraine conflict during the upcoming summit. Defending its purchase of crude oil from Russia, India has maintained that its energy purchases are driven by national interest and market dynamics.