The Russian President has landed in New Delhi for his first visit since the start of the Ukraine war, aiming to deepen trade and defence links despite growing pressure from Washington.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Thursday for a two-day state visit, marking the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. He is scheduled to hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the agenda dominated by a push to fast-track military supplies, secure long-term energy contracts, and address a widening trade imbalance.
This is Mr Putin’s first trip to India since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The visit is designed to signal that Moscow remains a “time-tested” partner for New Delhi, despite India’s deepening relationship with the United States.
Key deliverables for the summit include the ratification of the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) agreement, which will allow both militaries to use each other’s bases for logistics and supplies. Officials are also expected to finalize a roadmap to boost bilateral trade to $100bn (£78bn) by 2030, moving beyond just oil imports to include Indian pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
The itinerary includes a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu and an address to the India-Russia Business Forum. Reports also indicate Mr Putin will participate in a ceremony for the launch of the RT (Russia Today) TV channel in India, signaling a new push for Russian soft power in the region.
“The visit is of great importance, providing an opportunity to comprehensively discuss the extensive agenda of Russian-Indian relations,” a Kremlin spokesperson stated ahead of the landing.
Analysts in Washington view the timing as critical. “The United States will not find this meeting helpful,” said Lisa Curtis, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, noting that the summit underscores India’s refusal to “sacrifice its strategic autonomy” despite Western sanctions.
India has maintained a delicate neutral stance on the Ukraine war, calling for “dialogue and diplomacy” while refusing to condemn Russia explicitly. This position has allowed New Delhi to buy record amounts of discounted Russian crude oil, which has stabilized its domestic economy but irritated Western partners.
The summit comes just weeks after reports that the US administration has paused certain immigration processes and threatened tariffs on nations bypassing sanctions, adding a layer of tension to India’s diplomatic tightrope walk. While no major “surprise” weapons deal is expected, both sides are likely to announce accelerated delivery schedules for the remaining S-400 missile defence systems, which have been delayed by the war. The success of this visit will be measured by whether Prime Minister Modi can secure these strategic wins without triggering a punitive reaction from the White House.
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