NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit on Friday, December 5, 2025, unveiling a comprehensive roadmap for deepened cooperation through 2030. The high-stakes meeting, which reaffirmed the nations’ “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” delivered significant announcements, including major steps toward easier travel for Russian citizens and assured fuel supplies for India’s rapidly growing economy.

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Visa Easing: A Boost for Tourism and People-to-People Ties

A key takeaway from the joint address was the immediate push to simplify travel. Prime Minister Modi announced that India will soon introduce two new, significant visa facilities for Russian citizens:

• Free 30-day e-Tourist Visa: Allowing hassle-free individual travel.

• 30-day Group Tourist Visa: Designed to boost large-scale tourism from Russia.

This move is expected to significantly enhance cultural exchanges and tourism, which both leaders noted has steadily increased. The leaders also agreed to continue working on further simplification of the visa regime in the future, signaling a long-term focus on mobility.

 Energy Security: Assurance of Uninterrupted Fuel Supply

Amid ongoing geopolitical volatility, energy security remains a “strong pillar” of the bilateral relationship. President Putin explicitly assured India of “uninterrupted shipments of fuel” to meet the needs of its expanding economy.

Beyond oil and gas, the two nations committed to broadening cooperation in:

• Civil Nuclear Energy: Deepening support for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) and exploring new areas, including the potential for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and floating nuclear power plants.

• Critical Minerals: Collaborating to ensure a secure and diversified supply chain of essential critical raw materials worldwide.

 Economic Roadmap: The 2030 Vision and Trade Goals

The leaders adopted the ambitious Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India-Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030 (Vision 2030). This framework outlines a shared ambition to expand trade, investment, and technology partnerships.

• Bilateral Trade Target: PM Modi expressed confidence that the two nations will surpass the revised $100 billion bilateral trade target much earlier than the 2030 deadline.

• Connectivity Focus: Both sides committed to accelerating work on crucial connectivity routes, including the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor, which are key to cutting transit times and reducing logistics costs.

• FTA Talks: The intensification of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was strongly welcomed as a crucial step towards deeper market access.

• Defence and Manufacturing: Russia pledged to increase participation in India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, particularly in joint defence manufacturing and the co-production of equipment.

Strategic Partnership and Global Unity

Both Prime Minister Modi and President Putin underscored the time-tested nature of the India-Russia friendship, with PM Modi describing the relationship as “steadfast like the pole star” amid a changing world.

• Counter-Terrorism: The leaders reaffirmed their strong stance and commitment to standing “shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terrorism,” noting that the root of recent global terror incidents is the same.

• Global Platforms: The two nations will continue their close coordination within multilateral forums like the UN, G20, BRICS, and SCO.

The summit concluded with the signing of several sector-specific pacts covering health, mobility, maritime cooperation, and academic exchanges, showcasing a comprehensive and resilient partnership despite evolving global pressures.

What’s Next?

The focus now shifts to the prompt implementation of the ‘Vision 2030’ economic programme and the swift launch of the new e-visa schemes to capitalize on the momentum generated by the summit.