Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit New Delhi later this year, marking his first trip to India since the Ukraine war began in 2022.
The development comes as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on India, slapping a 50% tariff over its continued oil imports from Russia.
First Visit Since Ukraine Invasion
Since Russia’s military action in Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has largely avoided foreign travel, especially to countries that are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 over alleged ‘war crimes’. However, since India is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the warrant does not apply, making a visit feasible.
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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly called for diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The two leaders met twice in 2024, once in Moscow during the 22nd Annual Summit in July, and again at the BRICS Summit in Kazan. Prior to that, Putin last visited New Delhi in December 2021.
Why the Visit Holds Strategic Weight
Putin’s expected trip comes at a very sensitive time. US President Trump put India under the allegations of supporting Russia’s ‘war machine’ by constantly purchasing Russian oil. Despite tightening ties with the United States through alliances such as Quad, India still maintains a good relationship with Moscow as a ‘steady and time-tested partnership’.
The agreement was reinforced in 1971 during the India-Pakistan war, when the Soviet Union supported India against a US warship deployment to help Pakistan.
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India has defended its Russian oil imports, saying the move is critical for safeguarding ‘national interests and economic security’.
Deepening India-Russia Strategic Partnership
Bilateral relations were significantly upgraded with the ‘Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership’ signed in 2000 during one of Putin’s earlier visits. Since then, ties have expanded across defense, trade, technology, and cultural cooperation.
The Annual Summit remains the highest-level dialogue mechanism between the two nations, with 21 summits held so far. India and Russia also align on several multilateral forums such as the UN, G20, SCO, and BRICS.
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Trade between the two countries has already surpassed the earlier 2025 goal of $30 billion, with both leaders now targeting $50 billion in bilateral investment.
Robust Defense Collaboration
India-Russia defence ties remain strong. Major projects include the S-400 missile system, Su-30 MKIs, AK-203 rifles, and the BrahMos missile. The BrahMos system recently made headlines after being used during Operation Sindoor to strike terror targets in Pakistan and PoK.
