Russian President Vladimir Putin made his way to New Delhi on Thursday to engage in discussions with various government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Upon arrival, Prime Minister Modi greeted President Putin with a warm hug and invited him to a private three-hour dinner at his official residence. The two leaders are set to conduct a bilateral summit on Friday.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi referred to Putin and Russia as “friends,” both personally and politically. He emphasized the relationship between New Delhi and Moscow, describing it as “a time-tested bond that has provided significant benefits to our nations.”
This visit marks President Putin’s first trip to India since the onset of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. Both countries, it seems, are looking to enhance their bilateral trade, with hopes of surpassing $100 billion by 2030.
India’s Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal, mentioned that “Russia is India’s companion in happiness and sorrow.” However, he also pointed out the desire for a “balance” in their trade relationship, which currently skews heavily in favor of Russian exports to India.
Goyal highlighted six sectors where he hopes Russia will increase its imports of Indian goods. These sectors include agriculture, pharmaceuticals, communications, industrial components, and labor, a field where India has abundant talent to offer.
“We have much to gain from Russia and plenty to offer in return. The potential is limitless,” Goyal remarked.
On another front, a key goal for Putin is to reduce India’s reliance on Western defense suppliers. Until about five years ago, India obtained most of its military equipment from Russia. However, a shift occurred when India started exploring other sources to gain an edge over its rival, China. Additionally, the Ukraine conflict has strained Russia’s military production, affecting shipment timelines to India and prompting New Delhi to consider more bids from U.S. and European companies.
India’s substantial purchases of Russian oil have created tensions with the West. Following President Trump’s announcement of heavy tariffs on India for its continued oil consumption, India responded firmly, hinting at the possibility of undermining its arms agreement with the U.S.
Reports suggest that India is keen on acquiring further Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles, which have significantly impacted India’s foreign policy strategies in recent years. Notably, on Thursday, President Putin pitched Russia’s Su-57 fighter jets as alternatives to advanced fighters from Europe and the U.S.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh affirmed on Thursday that the military partnership between India and Russia is progressing at a “healthy pace,” despite existing geopolitical challenges.
In an interview on Thursday, President Putin addressed the Indian media and criticized Trump’s tariffs aimed at India, stating, “If the United States is allowed to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India have that same opportunity? The U.S. continues to purchase nuclear fuel from Russia; India should enjoy the same rights.”
The United States had imposed an embargo on Russian uranium in May 2024, and Russia reciprocated with a ban on uranium exports to the U.S. shortly thereafter—still, both nations have issued special permits and exemptions to keep the uranium trade alive.
Putin acknowledged in his interview that Western sanctions have led to some decline in trade volumes this year, but he regarded this as a “minor adjustment” to India-Russia trade relations. He claimed that energy trade between the two nations remains robust despite U.S. sanctions.
