Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in India this week for a summit aimed at deepening economic, defense and energy ties, a visit that will also test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the war in Ukraine grinds on.
Putin is scheduled to arrive on the state visit Thursday and hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. They are expected to review progress on bilateral ties, discuss issues of mutual interest and sign interdepartmental and business agreements, both governments said.
PM Modi to Russian President Putin
Terms Prez Putin a ‘visionary’, who backed strong India, Russia ties
On Ukraine
‘The Russian side kept us in the loop always’
‘We are on the side of peace’
‘We support peace efforts’ pic.twitter.com/Ip0JrRAHFj— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 5, 2025
Read more: Field Marshal Asim Munir Officially Takes Charge as Pakistan’s New Defence Chief
India has continued to buy discounted Russian oil, despite warnings from Washington that this is partly keeping Moscow’s revenues afloat to fund the Ukraine war. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed additional 25% tariffs on Indian imports, raising the total duties to 50%, in retaliation.
India has defended its imports as essential for meeting the growing energy needs of its 1.4 billion people.
Подарил Президенту Путину экземпляр Бхагавад-гиты на русском языке. Учения Гиты вдохновляют миллионы людей по всему миру.@KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/vQWG75l5IE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 5, 2025
Putin last visited India in 2021. Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
Read more: Women can self-test at home for cervical cancer virus, new guidelines say
The pivotal diplomatic moment
The India-Russia summit comes as the United States renews its push for a Ukraine peace plan and seeks broader cooperation from key partners.
Putin met U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin Tuesday to discuss the proposals, which critics have described as too heavily tilted toward Moscow. Yuri Ushakov, one of Putin’s senior advisers, told journalists after the meeting that talks had been “productive” but said that much work still remained.
Modi has avoided condemning Russia for the fighting in Ukraine while emphasizing the need for a peaceful settlement.
Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an international affairs expert at the Jindal School of International Affairs near New Delhi, said India has avoided taking on an overt mediating role because it could complicate its ties with both Russia and the U.S.
“But behind-the-scenes diplomacy by Modi is feasible, and has happened already to some extent,” Chaulia said.
Modi could try to nudge Putin “to accommodate some Ukrainian and European concerns to bring about a cessation of hostilities,” he added.
Economic cooperation key focus of Putin’s visit
India and Russia will look at bolstering their bilateral relationship and are expected to deliver a package of documents centered around economic cooperation, trade facilitation, maritime, healthcare and media exchanges, according to Indian officials involved in the summit’s preparation. They spoke on condition of anonymity as the details aren’t public.
India is keen to increase exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles to Russia and is seeking the removal of non-tariff barriers. New Delhi is also seeking long-term supplies of fertilizers from Moscow.
Another key area where the two countries are working to finalize an agreement is the safe and regulated migration of Indian skilled workers to Russia.