Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit New Delhi on December 4–5, 2025 for the annual India–Russia summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday. This visit, his first to India since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, comes at a time of changing geopolitical dynamics, heightened Western pressure on India, and intensified global scrutiny of Moscow’s international engagements.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who travelled to Russia for the 2024 annual summit, will hold extensive talks with Putin in New Delhi. The two leaders are expected to review bilateral ties, outline a roadmap for the future of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, and discuss key regional and global issues.

Earlier this month, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar met Putin in Moscow, setting the stage for the upcoming summit and reaffirming continuity in India–Russia engagement despite global pressures.

A High-Stakes Visit Amid Shifting Geopolitics

Putin’s trip offers both nations an opportunity to reassess their partnership at a time when India is facing sustained pressure from the United States to reduce its dependence on Russian energy and defence hardware. Despite this, India has maintained that its foreign policy decisions are guided by strategic autonomy and national interest.

According to officials, several “big-ticket deals and understandings” are expected during the summit. Putin last visited India in 2021, making this his first in four years and his first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The MEA said the two leaders will use the summit to review progress in bilateral relations, establish forward-looking goals, and exchange assessments of the global situation. President Droupadi Murmu will also meet Putin and host a banquet in his honour during the short but tightly scheduled visit.

Defence Cooperation: S-400 Systems and More

Defence ties—a central pillar of India–Russia relations—are expected to feature prominently. Both sides are in discussions to deepen defence industrial cooperation, expand co-production, and explore new procurements.

Officials noted that India is considering a follow-on order for additional S-400 air defence systems, citing their strong performance during recent hostilities with Pakistan. India had signed a USD 5.43 billion contract with Russia in 2018 for five S-400 units; three have already been delivered.

Beyond the S-400, talks may extend to joint manufacturing, technology transfers, and long-term frameworks for defence collaboration, especially as India seeks to strengthen its domestic defence ecosystem under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Strategic Energy and Nuclear Dialogue

Energy remains a major component of the India–Russia dynamic. While India has recently reduced buying volumes of Russian crude, Moscow has responded by offering larger discounts to remain one of India’s key suppliers. The summit may see new arrangements aimed at stabilising energy cooperation in the face of Western sanctions and market disruptions.

Officials also indicated that civil nuclear collaboration may see new announcements, potentially involving cooperation around fuel supply, reactor components, or new-generation nuclear technologies. Russia is already a major partner in India’s civil nuclear programme, including ongoing work at Kudankulam.

Trade Imbalance, Market Access, and Economic Agenda

Economic issues will be central to the discussions, especially the growing trade imbalance between the two nations. Bilateral trade reached a record USD 68.7 billion in 2024–25, fuelled largely by India’s massive imports of discounted Russian oil. However, India’s exports to Russia remain disproportionately low at USD 4.88 billion, and New Delhi is expected to push for greater market access for Indian goods and services.

Both nations are also expected to explore mechanisms for seamless payments amid sanctions-related complications and consider broadening trade beyond energy—particularly in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, machinery, and digital services.

Putin to Launch RT’s New India Channel

In addition to official engagements, Putin is expected to launch the India channel of Russia’s state-run broadcaster RT, marking an expansion of Moscow’s media presence in South Asia. The move reflects Russia’s efforts to strengthen its public outreach and narrative influence amid sustained Western media restrictions.

A Partnership With Deep Roots and Steady Momentum

The India–Russia strategic partnership, which marked its 25th anniversary on October 3, continues to be characterised by resilience, shared interests, and decades-long defence and technological cooperation. Modi and Putin maintain regular communication, having met at the SCO Summit in China earlier this year and spoken multiple times by phone—often discussing the Ukraine conflict and its global ramifications.

Their last meeting came just days after US President Donald Trump imposed punitive tariffs—doubling duties on Indian exports to 25%—in response to India’s continued purchase of Russian crude. During that conversation, Modi remarked that India and Russia have “always stood shoulder-to-shoulder even in the most difficult situations,” signalling continuity in New Delhi’s strategic calculus.

A Short but Impactful Visit Expected

Putin’s visit, expected to last just over 24 hours, mirrors the format of his recent foreign trips—highly focused, tightly scheduled, and strategically significant. With major defence, energy, and economic decisions on the table, the December 4–5 summit is poised to be a pivotal moment for both countries as they navigate a rapidly evolving global order.

The outcomes of this visit will likely shape the next phase of the India–Russia partnership, defining cooperation in defence, technology, energy security, and diplomatic coordination across Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific.