Russian President Vladimir Putin was due in India on Thursday for a two-day visit aimed at deepening defence ties, as New Delhi faces heavy US pressure to stop buying oil from Moscow.

Putin, on his first visit to India since the Ukraine war, is accompanied by his Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, with possible deals on fighter jets and air defence systems expected to be discussed.

In an interview with India Today ahead of his trip, Putin said he was "very happy" to be meeting "my friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The range of our cooperation with India is huge," he said in remarks translated by the broadcaster, citing ship and aircraft manufacturing, nuclear energy and space exploration.

Modi is due to host Putin for a private dinner on Thursday evening, followed by a summit meeti

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