The Kremlin on Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unexpected gesture of personally receiving Russian President Vladimir Putin at Palam Airport upon his arrival in New Delhi. Officials in Moscow noted that the Indian side had not informed them in advance, making the moment even more striking. According to the Kremlin, Modi’s decision to walk up to the aircraft ramp to greet Putin was a warm and unanticipated move. “Modi’s decision to meet Putin at the aircraft ramp was unexpected, and the Russian side had not been informed in advance,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
