Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on December 4, 2025, for a two-day state visit, his first since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit will focus on defence cooperation, oil imports, and trade amid pressures from Western sanctions and tariffs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host Putin for a private dinner, followed by formal talks.
The visit underscores India's delicate balancing act between its longstanding partnership with Russia and growing ties with the United States and Europe. Officials from India's Ministry of External Affairs dismissed concerns over an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Putin, noting India is not a signatory to the ICC. However, the trip has sparked tensions, including a recent editorial by envoys from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom criticizing Putin for delaying Ukraine peace talks, which Indian officials deemed 'not acceptable' but did not formally protest.
Key agenda items include defence deals. Russia has offered two to three additional S-400 air defence regiments, with proposals for 50% technology transfer and local production of 48N6 missiles. Discussions on Su-57 fighter jets are confirmed, alongside the recent ratification of the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) pact by Russia's Duma. These come amid U.S. threats of sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), though India was previously spared. Legacy equipment still constitutes about 60% of India's defence imports from Russia, with delays in S-400 deliveries due to the Ukraine war.
On energy, Russian crude accounted for 38% of India's imports in November, up from less than 2% before the war, driving bilateral trade to $68.7 billion in 2024-25, mostly from oil. Yet, imports are expected to halve in December due to U.S. secondary sanctions and high tariffs—reported as 25% to 50% on Indian goods—prompting India to reduce purchases. Putin warned in October that abandoning Russian oil would cost India $9-10 billion and invite 'humiliation,' urging diversification. The leaders aim for $100 billion in trade by 2030, exploring alternatives like Indian exports of produce, apparel, and machinery via the Eastern Maritime Corridor from Chennai to Vladivostok, plus progress on a Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement and a new payment framework.
A labour mobility agreement, set for launch on December 5, targets opportunities for Indian workers in Russia's construction, technology, and manufacturing sectors, addressing a projected shortfall of 3.1 million jobs. Nuclear cooperation features talks with Rosatom for five small modular reactors, alongside planned amendments to India's Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act. The summit schedule includes a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan and talks at Hyderabad House, with global eyes on how India navigates these ties amid its concerns over Russia's partnership with China.
