NEW DELHI, December 4, 2025 — Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi this evening for a high-stakes two-day state visit to participate in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, underscoring the enduring strength of the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between the two nations.

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President Putin’s arrival marks his first official trip to India since the Ukraine conflict began and comes at a crucial juncture in global geopolitics, reinforcing the strategic autonomy of India and Russia’s commitment to its key ally. In a rare diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received President Putin at the Palam Technical Airport.

Key Engagements and Schedule

The visit, running from December 4 to 5, is structured around intensive bilateral discussions and high-level engagements:

• December 4: President Putin was hosted by Prime Minister Modi for a private dinner at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. This one-on-one interaction is expected to set the tone for the formal summit talks.

• December 5: The main day of the visit includes a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a visit to Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. The formal 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit will take place at Hyderabad House, culminating in the signing of key agreements and the release of a Joint Statement. Later in the day, both leaders will address the India-Russia Business Forum before President Droupadi Murmu hosts a state banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary.

Major Focus Areas and Expected Outcomes

The 23rd Annual Summit is poised to yield significant progress across multiple sectors, with both countries seeking to deepen cooperation and insulate their bilateral ties from external pressures.

1. Defence and Strategic Cooperation

Defence remains a cornerstone of the partnership. Discussions are heavily focused on major military-technical collaborations, including:

• S-400 Systems: Further negotiations for the procurement of five additional S-400 Triumf air-defence squadrons are high on the agenda.

• Logistics Pact Ratification: Moscow has already ratified the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) agreement ahead of the visit, which allows the use of each other’s military facilities for exercises and support.

• Joint Production: Reviewing progress on joint development and production, notably the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile variants, and potential co-production of spare parts and components.

• Fifth-Generation Fighters: Discussions on the potential Indian procurement of Russia’s Sukhoi-57 (Su-57) fighter jets are also anticipated.

2. Economic and Energy Partnership

A major emphasis of the visit is boosting bilateral trade and investment, which reached $63.6 billion in 2024.

• Agreements: The two sides are reportedly finalising the signing of 10 inter-governmental agreements and 15 commercial deals.

• Economic Programme: A long-term “Program for the Development of Strategic Areas of Russian-Indian Economic Cooperation until 2030” is expected to be a key outcome.

• Energy: Expanding cooperation in the civil nuclear sector, including potential collaboration on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Efforts to find a “third-country-proof” payment mechanism to facilitate smoother trade, particularly for India’s discounted oil imports, are ongoing.

• Labour Mobility: An agreement is likely to be signed to facilitate the migration of skilled Indian labour to address Russia’s workforce shortages.

3. Regional and Global Issues

The leaders are set to exchange views on regional and global developments, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. India is expected to reiterate its consistent call for a return to diplomacy and dialogue for an early and enduring peace. Broader strategic coordination within multilateral forums like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will also be discussed.

The visit powerfully reaffirms the strategic commitment between New Delhi and Moscow, demonstrating their mutual resolve to expand and diversify cooperation across the economic, defence, and strategic domains, irrespective of the current challenging global geopolitical environment.