President Vladimir Putin will travel to New Delhi on December 4–5 for the annual India–Russia summit, the external affairs ministry confirmed on Friday. This will be his first trip to India since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. His last visit was in 2021.
Agenda To Be Discussed Between Modi & Putin
During the visit, Putin will hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had travelled to Russia last year for the previous summit. According to the ministry, the meeting will allow both leaders to “review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues.
High-Level Engagements
President Droupadi Murmu will also meet Putin and host an official banquet. The Russian leader is expected to stay in India for just over 24 hours, consistent with his recent short international trips.
Strategic and Economic Importance
Officials said the summit comes at a crucial time, with the US urging India to scale down its purchases of Russian oil and defence platforms. The annual meeting will help both countries reinforce cooperation despite geopolitical pressure. One official noted that “the geopolitical and geo-economic situation has changed considerably since August”, and the visit will help both sides explore new ways to enhance trade and investment.
Defence Cooperation and S-400 Systems
India and Russia have been in talks to deepen defence collaboration. According to officials, New Delhi is considering a follow-on order for additional S-400 air defence systems after their strong performance during an incident involving Pakistan in May. India earlier signed a $5.43-billion contract for five S-400 units in 2018, and three have been delivered.
Energy and Economic Discussions
Although India has slowly reduced its intake of Russian crude, Moscow has recently increased its discounts to retain India as a major buyer. The two nations may also announce fresh steps in civil nuclear cooperation. Trade issues including India’s limited access to Russian markets and the widening trade imbalance are expected to be key topics. Bilateral trade hit a record $68.7 billion in 2024–25, driven largely by discounted Russian oil, while India’s exports stood at just $4.88 billion.
Broader Diplomatic Context
Putin may also unveil the new India-focused channel of Russia’s state broadcaster RT during the trip. Modi and Putin have spoken on the phone several times recently, especially about the ongoing situation in Ukraine. They also met at the SCO Summit in China in early September, where they renewed their commitment to the strategic partnership, which completes 25 years on October 3.
US Pressure and India’s Stand
The visit comes shortly after US President Donald Trump imposed doubled tariffs a 25% punitive duty on Indian exports over its continued purchase of Russian oil. In a pointed response, Modi had remarked that India and Russia have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder even in the most difficult situations.
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