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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for an informal dinner at the Prime Minister’s Residence in New Delhi, India, December 4, 2025. — Reuters
– Putin’s visit seeks to strengthen trade relations amid Western sanctions.
– India navigates balancing its diplomatic ties with both Russia and the U.S. during trade negotiations.
– Modi and Putin are scheduled to discuss defense, oil, and nuclear energy today.
In New Delhi, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, focusing on bolstering trade with India, the largest buyer of Russian arms and maritime oil, as Western sanctions strain their long-standing relationship.
This marks Putin’s first visit to India in four years, coinciding with ongoing discussions between New Delhi and Washington for a trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump on Indian exports, particularly energy products sourced from Russia.
Russia has been India’s primary arms supplier for decades and has expressed interest in increasing imports of Indian goods to reach a target trade volume of $100 billion by 2030. Currently, their trade heavily favors Russia, mainly due to Indian energy imports.
Since European nations reduced their energy reliance on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, India has increased its purchases of discounted Russian crude oil.
“India faces a dilemma; by deepening its ties with Moscow or Washington, it risks damaging its relationship with the other,” said Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, in an article for Foreign Policy magazine.
Modi and Putin are also expected to discuss issues including labor, civil nuclear energy, and defense cooperation, with planned announcements to demonstrate the resilience of their partnership.
Modi greeted Putin warmly with a hug and handshake upon his arrival at a New Delhi airport Thursday, before hosting a private dinner at his residence. A delegation of business and government officials, including Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, accompanied Putin. Belousov stated that Russia’s defense industry is ready to support India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
Putin’s arrival follows a series of talks with U.S. officials about potential peace negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict—though no agreement was reached. India continues to refrain from condemning Russia’s actions, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy, and criticizes Western nations for targeting its dealings with Moscow, which they consider in their strategic interest.
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