Putin, Modi hold informal talks at Kremlin leader's residence

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow, Russia July 8, 2024. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Monday and toured him around his residence outside Moscow ahead of official talks in the Kremlin on Tuesday.

Putin embraced the Indian leader at his home at Novo-Ogaryovo, greeted him as his "dear friend" and said he was "very happy" to see him, according to an account by Russia's TASS state news agency.