India rolled out the red carpet on Thursday to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin for a visit that marks his first to the country in four years and his first since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received the Russian leader at Delhi’s Palam airport, underscoring the importance New Delhi attaches to its long-standing relationship with Moscow. The visit, culminating in the annual India-Russia summit, comes amid intense global scrutiny, particularly from the United States and European powers, over India’s continued energy and defence engagement with Russia.

Putin’s arrival was met with a blend of ceremonial pomp and personal diplomacy. As the Russian president stepped out of his official aircraft onto the red carpet on a winter evening, Modi greeted him with a hug and a handshake, a gesture reflecting the closeness of their personal rapport. Following the airport reception, which included a brief cultural performance on the tarmac, the two leaders traveled together in a white SUV to Modi’s official residence. There, they held a private dinner with a small group of aides, creating an informal setting for wide-ranging discussions that would set the tone for the next day’s summit.

Modi, expressing his pleasure on social media, wrote, “Delighted to welcome my friend President Putin to India. India-Russia friendship is a time-tested one that has greatly benefited our people.” The formal elements of Putin’s visit, including a ceremonial welcome and a tri-services guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, were scheduled for Friday, ahead of his talks with Modi at Hyderabad House. The summit aims to reinforce cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, defence, technology, and academia, while also promoting business engagement and investments between the two nations.

This visit holds particular strategic significance for India, as it allows New Delhi to reaffirm its strategic autonomy in a period of heightened geopolitical tension. Over the past year, the United States and European nations have exerted pressure on India to reduce its purchases of Russian oil and military hardware, seeking to limit Moscow’s economic leverage amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. In this context, the India-Russia summit is expected to focus on measures that can insulate bilateral trade from external pressures, ensuring that the two nations’ long-standing partnership continues to thrive despite international sanctions and trade restrictions.

Putin’s visit comes on the heels of multiple interactions with Modi over the past year. The two leaders last met in September at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, and have held five telephone conversations in 2025 alone. The last full bilateral summit was hosted by Putin in Moscow in July 2024. These interactions have allowed both leaders to cultivate a relationship that blends strategic alignment with personal rapport, which is now expected to play a key role during the upcoming summit discussions.

Ahead of the summit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov outlined key priorities for the talks, which include cooperation on small modular reactors in the nuclear energy sector, expanding defence collaboration, and exploring ways to shield bilateral trade from US-imposed sanctions. Russian military hardware constitutes approximately 36 percent of India’s armed forces inventory, making defence cooperation a central pillar of the relationship. Peskov also highlighted plans for a mobility agreement that would facilitate Indian skilled and semi-skilled workers joining Russia’s labour market, as well as initiatives to diversify the trade basket. Indian exports to Russia currently account for less than $5 billion of the $68 billion in two-way trade, and New Delhi is keen to expand market access for Indian goods.

The backdrop to Putin’s visit also includes the United States’ punitive tariffs on Indian imports. In August, the Trump administration imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods linked to Russian energy purchases, raising the total levy to 50 percent — among the highest in the world. This has exacerbated tensions in India-US trade relations and added urgency to India’s efforts to diversify and secure its trade and energy partnerships.

European scrutiny of the visit is equally intense. Ahead of Putin’s arrival, envoys from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom co-authored an op-ed sharply criticising the Russian leader for obstructing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann highlighted the visit as an opportunity for India to press Moscow on halting the conflict. Analysts note that while India has maintained a neutral stance on Ukraine, it has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy as the only sustainable path to peace, emphasizing that military solutions alone cannot resolve the conflict.

The private dinner held on Thursday evening was expected to provide a candid space for both leaders to review the full spectrum of bilateral ties, including trade, defence, energy, and broader regional and global issues. Sources familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the informal setting allows for frank dialogue, often revealing insights that go beyond the public statements released during official ceremonies.

Defence and energy continue to dominate the bilateral agenda. Russia remains one of India’s primary sources of military hardware, and discussions are likely to explore new collaborations in defence production, including joint development projects. In the energy sector, India seeks to secure long-term supplies of Russian oil and gas while mitigating the impact of international sanctions. This has become particularly pressing in light of global market volatility and geopolitical pressures from the West.

Technology and trade cooperation are also key areas of focus. The summit is expected to result in agreements aimed at facilitating collaboration in sectors ranging from space and nuclear energy to education and research. Both sides aim to strengthen business ties and promote investments that would increase Indian exports to Russia, thereby addressing the imbalance in bilateral trade.

Beyond strategic and economic matters, Putin’s visit underscores the personal dimension of India-Russia relations. Modi and Putin are known for a rapport that blends professional respect with personal trust. This was reflected not only in their airport reception but also in the informal interactions during the SCO Summit in China, when the leaders shared a car ride and engaged in candid conversation. Such moments demonstrate the depth of mutual understanding that underpins the broader strategic partnership.

Looking ahead, the India-Russia summit on Friday is expected to reinforce the longstanding partnership between the two nations. With a focus on trade, energy, defence, and technology, the summit is set against the broader backdrop of a shifting global order, marked by US-European pressure on Russia and India’s emphasis on strategic autonomy. Analysts suggest that the outcomes of the summit could have implications beyond bilateral ties, influencing India’s energy security, defence modernization, and its positioning within broader geopolitical frameworks.

In conclusion, Vladimir Putin’s arrival in India represents a significant moment in India-Russia relations. The personal rapport between Modi and Putin, combined with the strategic and historical depth of their countries’ engagement, positions this summit as an opportunity to reinforce bilateral ties in the face of global pressures. As India seeks to balance its relationships with the West while maintaining robust ties with Russia, the summit serves as a key demonstration of New Delhi’s strategic autonomy and long-term vision for partnerships that are resilient, pragmatic, and mutually beneficial.

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