Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in New Delhi on Friday to reset military and energy cooperation between the two nations, pledging to align their defense partnership with India’s domestic production goals. The summit marked Putin’s first visit to India since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In a joint statement, the leaders said the defense relationship would be increasingly focused on “joint research and development, as well as the production of advanced defence platforms,” acknowledging New Delhi’s push for strategic autonomy and domestic manufacturing.
Putin, speaking during a press conference after the meeting, said Russia is ready to ensure “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. “Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything that is required for the development of India’s energy,” he said. “We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel for the fast-growing Indian economy.”
The visit took place as India faces intensified pressure from the United States over its imports of Russian oil. In August, Washington doubled the tariff on most Indian goods to 50% in response to India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian crude. The U.S. sanctions began targeting Russian oil firms Rosneft and Lukoil in November, which collectively account for roughly 60% of India’s oil imports.
Modi did not mention Russian oil directly, but thanked Putin for his “unwavering commitment towards India,” noting that “energy security has been a strong and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership.”
Putin’s visit included ceremonial events at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. He also held formal talks with Modi at Hyderabad House. According to Al Jazeera’s Neha Poonia, reporting from New Delhi, the Russian leader’s visit was conducted with “much fanfare,” including a personal welcome from Modi at the airport and a private dinner hosted at the prime minister’s residence.
India and Russia also outlined an economic cooperation plan extending through 2030. “We have agreed on an economic cooperation programme until 2030,” Modi told Putin during the summit. “This will ensure that our trade and investment are diversified, balanced, and sustainable.”
Bilateral trade between India and Russia peaked at $68 billion in 2024, and officials have set a goal to raise that figure to $100 billion by 2030. Russia remains India’s largest arms supplier, though the U.S. has expressed concern about continued military cooperation. Moscow has proposed additional sales of S-400 missile systems and Su-57 fighter jets, though no defense procurement announcements were made.
Russia’s international standing remains strained. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 over allegations of illegally deporting Ukrainian children — charges Russia denies. India is not a party to the ICC and was under no obligation to detain Putin.
India has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine war, calling for peace talks instead of sanctions. New Delhi has emphasized that it is being unfairly targeted, especially given that several Western nations continue selective trade with Russia. In an interview with Indian journalists before the visit, Putin said, “The United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants.” He added, “If the US has the right to buy Russian fuel, India should enjoy the same privilege.”
The summit came days after separate U.S.-Russia and U.S.-Ukraine diplomatic meetings aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, with both sides reporting progress but no breakthrough.
Putin is scheduled to depart India at 9 p.m. local time.
