12/04/2025December 4, 2025Putin in India: What is the schedule and agenda?
As Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to begin a two-day visit to India defense and trade relations will be the major talking point between the two countries.
What is Putin’s schedule during his visit?
Private dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening
Visit Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, on Friday morning, according to news channel NDTV
Attend the 23rd India-Russia summit with Modi on Friday
What topics are on the agenda?
ENERGY: India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. However, this has been a sore point for the US President Donald Trump. India says it will not cut Russian energy off entirely, prioritizing energy security for 1.45 billion people
DEFENSE: India currently has three Russian S-400 air defense system units, with delivery of two more pending under a 2018 deal
Moscow may also offer co-production of Russia’s Su-57 fighter jets, local media reports said
TRADE: Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $68.7 billion in 2024–25, but Indian exports were only $4.88 billion, creating a major imbalance
India wants better Russian market access for pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture, textiles, and services sectors
New Delhi also seeks long-term supplies of fertilizers from Moscow
MIGRATION: Modi government also wants regulated migration of Indian skilled workers to Russia
UKRAINE: On the Ukraine war, Modi continues to call for a peaceful resolution but does not condemn Russia
https://p.dw.com/p/54jFy
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India underscores a partnership between Moscow and New Delhi that has endured for nearly eight decades of geopolitical upheavals.
Ahead of the visit, Kremlin spokesperson and Putin’s chief of staff Dmitry Peskov underlined the importance of defending the India-Russia bilateral relationship and trade.
His comments come as India is facing US tariffs over buying Russian oil and Russia continues to navigate an ever-growing number of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Read more
https://p.dw.com/p/54jEO
12/04/2025December 4, 2025What is the importance of Putin’s visit?
Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin his two-day state visit to India on Thursday as he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aim to deepen economic, defense and energy ties.
Putin’s visit to India comes at a time when Western sanctions are forcing Moscow to turn to its decades-old ally, demonstrating Russia’s priority of ties with New Delhi.
Russia remains a crucial supplier of Indian military hardware and media reports suggest there are major new defense deals in the making.
The meeting of the two leaders is also expected to address strategic energy cooperation as India remains one of the largest buyers of Russian oil, despite US pressure.
It will also allow Modi to offer behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Modi could try to nudge Putin “to accommodate some Ukrainian and European concerns to bring about a cessation of hostilities,” Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an international affairs expert at the Jindal School of International Affairs near New Delhi, told AP news agency.
https://p.dw.com/p/54jHj
Hello!
Welcome to our coverage of Russian President Vladimir Putin in India.
The two-day state visit beginning Thursday is Putin’s first since the Ukraine war began in 2022.
The visit aims to reset and strengthen ties at a critical geopolitical moment for both countries, as New Delhi tries to balance relations with Moscow and Washington.
The planned talks will focus on relations between the two countries, including in the areas of trade and energy. Putin is seeking to deepen defense ties even as New Delhi faces growing US pressure to stop buying Russian oil.
https://p.dw.com/p/54jBL