Defence, Crude Oil, Ukraine War: What's On Agenda For Putin’s India Visit Next Week

Last Updated:November 29, 2025, 08:00 IST

Vladimir Putin will visit India on December 4-5 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit to boost the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the SCO summit in Tianjin, China. (File photo)

Putin India Visit: Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to embark on a two-day state visit to India on December 4-5 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday. The meeting comes as both nations look to strengthen their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" and address issues of mutual concern.

“The forthcoming state visit will provide an opportunity for the leadership of India and Russia to review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest," the MEA said in a statement.

During the visit, Putin will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Droupadi Murmu will receive President Putin and host a banquet in his honour.

Putin’s last visit was in December 2021 for the annual summit, which rotates between the two countries. PM Modi met President Putin on September 1 this year in Tianjin, China, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.

Kremlin has described Putin’s visit to India as a crucial moment for both nations. Both leaders are expected to hold talks focussing on defence, energy, trade and bilateral relations.

“The visit is of great importance, providing an opportunity to comprehensively discuss the extensive agenda of Russian-Indian relations within the particularly privileged strategic partnership in the political, trade, economic, scientific, technological, cultural, and humanitarian spheres, as well as to consider topical international and regional issues," the Kremlin said in a statement.

“The current international and regional issues will also feature prominently in the talks with the Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Modi," it said.

What’s On Agenda?

The MEA, announcing the visit, said that it will set the vision for strengthening the India-Russia ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’. The Kremlin said both sides are expected to adopt a joint statement and sign a “wide range of interdepartmental and business agreements" following the talks between the leaders.

It is learnt that ways to bolster two-way trade using local currencies, taking forward bilateral energy cooperation notwithstanding Western sanctions against Russia, further enhancing defence ties and the Ukraine conflict are likely to dominate the talks.

Last week, Jaishankar said India and Russia are looking at firming up a number of agreements, initiatives and projects to add more substance to the ties during Putin’s visit to New Delhi.

“A number of bilateral agreements, initiatives and projects are under discussion in various fields. We look forward to their finalization in the coming days," he had said during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

“These will certainly add more substance and texture to our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," he said.

Procurement Of S-400, Su-57

India is looking to procure additional batches of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia, as the weapons proved to be very effective during Operation Sindoor, news agency PTI reported.

In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Three squadrons have already been delivered and the remaining two are expected to be sent by middle of next year.

There is also a possibility that India may hold talks with the Russian side on the possibility of buying at least two squadrons of the Su-57 fighter jets though New Delhi has not made any final decision on the procurement, the news agency added.

India will also take up delays in other major defence projects with the Russian side during the summit and push for expedited progress.

Procurement Of Crude Oil

New Delhi is expected to press for addressing the increasing trade deficit caused by India’s procurement of large volumes of Russian crude oil. The two sides are also likely to focus on deepening cooperation in areas of civil nuclear energy.

It is learnt that Russia has offered India additional discounts for its procurement of crude oil. The offer came after the volume of India’s purchase of Russian crude oil registered a decline in the last few weeks following the latest wave of US sanctions on two Russian oil producers.

Ukraine War

Another agenda could be discussion of Russia-Ukraine war, where PM Modi has advocated for peace several times. Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha and discussed the latest developments in the Ukraine conflict.

“Had a telecon with FM Andrii Sybiha last evening. Appreciate his briefing on the ongoing developments related to the Ukraine conflict. Reiterated India’s support for an early end to this conflict and the establishment of an enduring peace," Jaishankar said.

Mobility Agreement

Both leaders are also likely to sign a landmark bilateral mobility agreement which aims to create a structured framework for legal migration, protection of workers’ rights, and expansion of skilled Indian manpower in Russia, which is currently facing a significant shortage of qualified professionals amid its rapidly growing economy.

As per reports, the agreement will safeguard the interests of existing Indian workers in Russia while paving the way for thousands of new job opportunities across sectors such as construction, textiles, engineering, and electronics.

By the end of this year, more than 70,000 Indian citizens are expected to be officially employed in Russia under the quotas overseen by the Russian Ministry of Labour.

The Indian Business Alliance (IBA), based in Moscow, has welcomed the forthcoming

India-Russia Annual Summit

India and Russia have a mechanism under which India’s Prime Minister and the Russian President hold a summit meeting annually to review the entire gamut of ties.

So far, 22 annual summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia.

The Russian President had last visited New Delhi in 2021. In July last year, PM Modi travelled to Moscow for the annual summit.

Russia has been a time-tested partner for India and the country has been a key pillar of New Delhi’s foreign policy.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world Defence, Crude Oil, Ukraine War: What's On Agenda For Putin’s India Visit Next Week

Read More