President Putin arrived in New Delhi for a two day state visit, his first to India since the full scale Ukraine war began in 2022. He was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Modi in a rare public display of diplomatic warmth.

The twenty third India Russia Annual Summit convened on five December twenty twenty five at Hyderabad House. The leaders held extended discussions covering energy, defence, trade and strategic cooperation against a backdrop of mounting Western pressure on New Delhi to curb ties with Moscow.

Energy remained a central theme of the talks. Putin pledged uninterrupted supplies of Russian fuel to support India’s growing economy even as Moscow remains under heavy sanctions. India’s need for affordable energy and Russia’s role as a long standing supplier were highlighted throughout the summit.

Economic cooperation emerged as a key outcome. The two leaders agreed to expand bilateral trade with a long term ambition to increase volumes by twenty thirty. Defence and high technology collaboration, including joint research and local manufacturing in India, were also placed prominently on the agenda.

Defence and arms cooperation continue to form a core pillar of the Russia India relationship. The summit included proposals to deepen cooperation on military technical projects and to co develop defence technologies under India’s wider effort to strengthen domestic …