Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India on December 4–5, 2025, to attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He will hold talks with Modi and meet President Draupadi Murmu. This is the Russian president’s first visit in the last four years. Here is a breakdown of the possible talk points for the meeting:
Strengthening India-Russia partnership
MEA says the visit will allow leaders to review the relationship, set future goals, and discuss important regional and global issues. “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 explained in an official statement.
Kremlin also explained the broad scope of talks, covering many areas including politics, trade, science, culture, and global issues.
“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… as well as to consider topical international and regional issues,” the Kremlin stated in an official note.
Defence and energy-related talks
At the summit, India and Russia will mainly talk about defence and energy cooperation. India wants more S-400 air defence systems because they worked well during Operation Sindoor. Three units have arrived, and two more are expected next year. India will also ask Russia why deliveries are delayed.
As Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said at the ANI National Security Summit in New Delhi, “Potentially S-400 not ruled but don’t expect any announcements during this. This meeting will focus on the broader elements of cooperation on defence between the two sides.”
India will also raise delays in other projects, including the Sukhoi upgrade, and discuss possible interest in Russia’s Su-57 fighter jets. Russia has also offered India extra discounts on crude oil because India has reduced its oil purchases due to US sanctions.
Ukraine war and peace efforts
The leaders will discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. India has been calling for an early end to the conflict. External affairs minister S Jaishankar recently posted on X the importance of peace efforts in the war, “Reiterated India’s support for an early end to this conflict and the establishment of an enduring peace.” These discussions matter because Russia is a long-time partner, and India wants to balance this relationship while encouraging peace.
Trade and economic cooperation
Trade will be another major topic. India and Russia have seen big growth in their trade, mostly because India has been buying large amounts of Russian oil. But new US sanctions on major Russian oil companies could reduce these imports.
Since this may affect future trade growth, both countries will talk about increasing Indian exports to Russia, especially in pharmaceuticals, machinery, and agriculture. The summit will also cover civil aviation, critical minerals, investment projects, and labour movement.
Reviving the India-Russia partnership
The visit is important because it comes after a period when India kept its engagement with Russia low-key due to the Ukraine war and pressure from Western countries.
In recent months, the relationship has begun to strengthen again, especially in defence talks. India has also shown interest in projects like the Pantsir air defence system and the Voronezh radar. The Kremlin said the visit will allow both sides to discuss the “extensive agenda of Russian-Indian relations” across political, economic, scientific, and cultural areas.
Geopolitical pressure
The background to these talks includes growing pressure from the United States. Washington has imposed high tariffs on Indian goods and pushed India to buy less Russian oil.
New US legislation could bring even harsher penalties on countries dealing with Russian energy. These issues make the summit important for India, as it wants to maintain strong ties with both the US and Russia without harming its own interests.