What to expect from Putin’s India visit: Defence, energy and trade in discussion explainer news

Last updated:December 03, 2025, 09:28 IST

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi will be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to India in 4 years, and his first since the start of the Ukraine conflict.

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi on December 4-5 will be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to India in four years, and his first since the start of the Ukraine conflict.

For New Delhi, this is a moment when the government is trying to protect its strategic autonomy, manage pressure from Washington and other Western capitals, and is still dependent on Moscow for vital defense supplies, crude oil and fertilizers. For Moscow, it is a chance to reaffirm its “special and privileged strategic partnership” with one of its most stable long-term partners and lock in a new economic order that works around sanctions and a fragmented global order.

Senior officials from both sides have indicated that this will not be a purely symbolic engagement. Along with the state banquet and formal summit between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, New Delhi and Moscow are preparing agreements that cut across defence, energy, mobility, health care, logistics, payments and trade ties.

Putin will also be accompanied by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and a high-level delegation representing trade and industry, a sign of the importance Moscow attaches to the summit.

Partnerships built through annual summits

The Kremlin has described India-Russia relations as based on trust and continuity. During a briefing in New Delhi, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia stands “shoulder to shoulder” with India through important stages of nation-building, adding that this continuity remains at the heart of Moscow’s foreign policy.

Indian officials have pointed to the role of the annual summit in maintaining momentum even during global turmoil. Putin first visited India in 2000 and this summit will be the 23rd edition of the mechanism.

According to the cited data, bilateral trade between India and Russia stood at US$ 68.7 billion in the financial year 2024-25. Indian Express According to the report, India exports goods worth US$4.9 billion and imports goods worth US$63.8 billion, mainly due to energy purchases. Both sides have set a target of US $ 100 billion trade by 2030.

Defense Cooperation and Logistics Agreements

Defense is expected to be one of the most sensitive and closely watched parts of the agenda. India can insist on prompt delivery of additional S-400 Triumf long-range air-defense systems already contracted, as well as clear timelines and assurances on spares and upgrades for existing Russian-origin platforms in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Future platforms will also come. The next-generation Su-57 fighter program is expected to be discussed as a long-term option, and some assessments suggest India may also explore advanced air-defense systems like the S-500 at the level of forward-looking negotiations rather than through immediate contracts.

Rather than relying solely on off-the-shelf purchases, New Delhi is looking to expand co-development and joint manufacturing in missiles, submarines, aviation and other defense technologies in line with its pursuit of greater self-reliance in defense supplies.

A major signal ahead of the visit came from Moscow when the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, approved it on Tuesday. Reciprocating Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) AgreementThis military logistics agreement, signed in February this year, allows aircraft, warships and personnel of both the countries to use each other’s facilities for joint exercises, training, humanitarian missions and disaster-relief operations, It was sent to the lower house for ratification by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin last week, completing one of the final procedural steps needed for it to come into force,

Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin described the move as a confirmation of the “strategic and comprehensive” nature of India-Russia relations. “Our relations with India are strategic and comprehensive, and we value them. We understand that today’s approval of the agreement is another step towards reciprocity and, of course, the development of our relations,” Volodin said while addressing lawmakers.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also praised New Delhi’s position on the Ukraine conflict, highlighting Modi’s line that “this is not an era of war”, and comparing India’s willingness to engage on difficult issues to what he described as a lack of dialogue with Europe. On Russia’s relations with Beijing, he said Moscow wants to deepen cooperation with China “as far as India allows”, while stressing that its relations with India and China are on an independent path.

Energy and nuclear projects on the table

Energy is expected to feature prominently. Peskov said Russia continues to supply crude oil to India at competitive prices, describing the arrangement as “mutually beneficial”. Indian officials have said that India’s energy purchases are business decisions made by companies.

New Delhi is expected to explore long-term crude oil supply contracts with Russian companies not under US sanctions, including companies such as Lukoil and Rosneft. The discussions may also include revival of Indian equity in Russian upstream projects and progress on the Liquefied Natural Gas Initiative. Other ongoing proposals include cooperation in critical minerals, manufacturing and maritime connectivity between India and the Russian Far East.

Civil nuclear cooperation is another key area. In Peskov’s words, Russian cooperation at existing sites has helped create a “regional ecosystem” within India’s nuclear industry. During the visit, both sides are expected to review progress on ongoing projects including beyond Kudankulam and examine the scope of new units and even small or modular reactor cooperation in line with India’s clean-energy goals.

Trade, FTA Negotiations and Business Forum

Economic partnership will be a key area of ​​focus. During the visit, there will be a two-day India-Russia Business Forum in New Delhi, which will bring together industry bodies like FICCI and Russian partners. The platform will focus on enhancing Indian exports and expanding regional cooperation in pharmaceuticals, machinery, agriculture, electronics and services. Other discussions included engineering exports, increasing Russian imports of Indian pharmaceuticals and food products and cooperation in digital services.

A major economic deliverable under discussion is the proposed India-Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement. The first round of talks took place last year. Foreign Ministry officials have said the intention is to reach an agreement “soon.” Market access for both parties is expected to increase once the agreement is finalized.

Fertilizer imports remain a central component of India’s trade with Russia, with New Delhi sourcing 3–4 million tonnes annually. Both sides are exploring ways to deepen this partnership to support long-term agricultural security.

Payments, Connectivity and Local Currency System

With Western sanctions limiting Russia’s access to dollar-dominated banking channels, India and Russia are increasingly moving towards de-dollarized regimes, with the UAE trading through currencies such as the dirham, rupee and yuan. GTRI has pointed to discussions on a more formal payments framework that could include using the dirham more systematically or even linking Russia’s SPFS messaging system with Indian platforms like RuPay, and governments have already confirmed that an understanding exists on the rupee-ruble mechanism.

Connectivity projects are also expected to be reviewed. India’s interests in the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor, Iran’s Chabahar port, and nodes of the International North-South Transport Corridor, along with India’s decision to expand its consular footprint in Russia with new consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg, are expected to figure in the talks.

Mobility, labor movement and health cooperation

Mobility agreements have emerged as another key area of ​​cooperation. India and Russia have finalized an agreement covering the movement of skilled and semi-skilled workers. The document is going through internal processes and is expected to ease labor mobility. Russian authorities are increasing the number of specialized manpower.

Indian officials have urged citizens working abroad, including in Russia, to be cautious about contracts. Most of the Indian nationals who inadvertently joined the Russian army have been repatriated, and the remaining cases are expected to be resolved. Officials have noted that India does not have a centralized system for tracking its citizens working abroad, and the information often comes to light through media queries or disclosures from host countries.

Health cooperation is also being strengthened. Both governments are preparing a framework to enhance cooperation in pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Plans include expanding Indian exports of drugs and devices, promoting local manufacturing by Indian companies in Russia, and jointly developing modern pharma and medtech units. These initiatives aim to support resilient health care systems.

Anti-terrorism and comprehensive consultation

Security consultations at the summit will range from bilateral projects to regional and global issues. Along with defense and nuclear talks, the two sides will review the existing joint counter-terrorism mechanism that has been active since 2002. Ahead of the visit, Peskov condemned the recent blast in Delhi and reiterated Moscow’s support for India’s fight against terrorism.

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