Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. Credit - Prakash Singh—Bloomberg via Getty Images
Even as Russia once again made clear this week that it had no intention of pursuing genuine peace negotiations on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi to a red carpet treatment. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the Russian leader on Thursday with a handshake and hug on the tarmac, breaking diplomatic protocol. The sight was a reminder that Russia is far from a geopolitical pariah in important parts of the world, and