Narendra Modi has rolled out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin, with the leaders set to discuss trade and energy ties. The talks come as India carries out negotiations for trade deals with the US and the EU.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set for bilateral talks on Friday Modi and Putin are expected to discuss defense and energy at a business summit, according to Indian officials Putin is visiting India for the first time since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 Putin was received by Modi at the airport on Thursday at the start of his two-day visit to India
This is a roundup of news from Putin’s visit to India on December 4 and December 5:
Putin, Modi aim to strengthen bilateral ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s second day in New Delhi will feature a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 23rd Russia-India Summit.
The annual summit is expected to focus on defense, energy and trade, according to Indian officials, even as India faces US pressure over its purchases of Russian oil
The meeting between the leaders comes as New Delhi seeks to balance ties with Moscow and Washington, against the backdrop of the Ukraine war and US tariffs of 50% on most Indian goods.
India has been the second biggest importer of Russian crude oil after China. So, energy security is expected to be a big topic of discussion.
While India has long maintained close ties with Russia, critics say Putin’s visit could impact ties with the European Union and the United States, complicating key export negotiations.
Putin last visited India in 2021, but Modi and Putin last met in September during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
Welcome to our coverage
Friday is day two of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to India, with the leaders set to discuss trade and energy ties.
Putin arrived in India on Thursday, with the two leaders having held private talks at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence later that evening.
India has been under US pressure to cut its purchases of Russian oil, with US President Donald Trump having slapped tariffs of 50% on Indian goods in August.
At the same time, Indian negotiators have been trying to strike a trade deal with the US, as well as the EU.
Our coverage is on pause
As Putin and Modi dine and engage in private talks on Thursday night, we are putting this live blog on pause.
We’ll be back with further developments during Putin’s visit to India as they become available. Check back later for updates.
Putin highlights Russia’s ‘huge’ cooperation with India
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is “very happy” to be meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he called his “friend.”
Modi greeted Putin at Palam airport in New Delhi, and the pair got into a limousine that was waiting on the runway.
According to the Russian state agency TASS, Putin and Modi stayed in the car after they had reached their destination for 50 more minutes to continue their one-on-one talks.
Putin’s visit to India is expected to focus on cementing Russia’s and India’s bilateral relationship, which covers a broad range of sectors.
“The range of our cooperation with India is huge,” Putin said in an interview with broadcaster India Today.
The Russian leader pointed to ship and aircraft manufacturing, nuclear energy and space exploration.
India has also continued to purchase Russian energy, despite mounting pressure from Western leaders — in particular US President Donald Trump.
The US president wants India to stop buying Russian oil and gas as a way to compel Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
The interview with Putin was due to be aired after he landed in the Indian capital for talks with Modi.
The transcript was made available to Reuters news agency by India Today.
Modi hails Russia relationship at start of Putin visit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday that he was “delighted to welcome (his) friend” Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi.
Putin is on a two-day state visit to India as he looks to shore up economic, defense and energy ties.
In a post on X, Modi said he was “looking forward to our interactions” on Thursday evening and Friday.
“India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people,” Modi added.
Putin arrives in New Delhi
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Indian broadcasters said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Russian president at the airport, greeting him on a red carpet. The leaders are scheduled to have a private dinner later tonight.
Putin is on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties between the two countries.
The visit is Putin’s first since Russia’s war in Ukraine started in February 2022.
India plans boost in auto and electronic exports to Russia
India is planning to increase a diverse range of exports to Russia, the country’s trade minister said on Thursday ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit.
India aims to increase the sales of automobiles, electronic goods, textiles and machinery to Russia, as it strives to address what the trade minister called trade imbalances.
Germany defends ambassador’s op-ed on Russia
The German foreign ministry rejected India’s criticism of an opinion piece co-authored by the German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, along with the ambassadors of France and the UK, saying envoys are expected to communicate the positions of their countries publicly.
Coming ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, the op-ed published by The Times of India newspaper titled “World wants the Ukraine war to end, but Russia doesn’t seem serious about peace” said that “Russia could end the war tomorrow by withdrawing its forces and ending its illegal invasion” in Ukraine but chooses not to.
The Indian’s Ministry of External Affairs reacted strongly to the op-ed, saying it is “not an acceptable diplomatic practice to give advice on relations with third countries.”
‘Presentation of the German position’
A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded to the criticism saying, “The article presents an assessment of Russia’s behavior that is shared by the vast majority of countries around the world. It was published jointly with other countries… This is not interference, but rather a presentation of the German position.”
Additionally, the ministry responded to the Russian ambassador to India publishing his own opinion piece criticizing Europe, saying, “It’s always a good idea to stand by your opinion and spread your opinion… And frankly, we don’t care what reactions that triggers from a Russian ambassador somewhere in the world.”
Putin in India: What is the schedule and agenda?
As Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to begin a two-day visit to India defense and trade relations will be the major talking point between the two countries.
What is Putin’s schedule during his visit?
Private dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening
Visit Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, on Friday morning, according to news channel NDTV
Attend the 23rd India-Russia summit with Modi on Friday
What topics are on the agenda?
ENERGY: India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. However, this has been a sore point for the US President Donald Trump. India says it will not cut Russian energy off entirely, prioritizing energy security for 1.45 billion people DEFENSE: India currently has three Russian S-400 air defense system units, with delivery of two more pending under a 2018 deal Moscow may also offer co-production of Russia’s Su-57 fighter jets, local media reports said TRADE: Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $68.7 billion in 2024–25, but Indian exports were only $4.88 billion, creating a major imbalance India wants better Russian market access for pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture, textiles, and services sectors New Delhi also seeks long-term supplies of fertilizers from Moscow MIGRATION: Modi government also wants regulated migration of Indian skilled workers to Russia UKRAINE: On the Ukraine war, Modi continues to call for a peaceful resolution but does not condemn Russia
Putin’s visit to India tests New Delhi’s balancing act
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India underscores a partnership between Moscow and New Delhi that has endured for nearly eight decades of geopolitical upheavals.
Ahead of the visit, Kremlin spokesperson and Putin’s chief of staff Dmitry Peskov underlined the importance of defending the India-Russia bilateral relationship and trade.
His comments come as India is facing US tariffs over buying Russian oil and Russia continues to navigate an ever-growing number of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Read more
What is the importance of Putin’s visit?
Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin his two-day state visit to India on Thursday as he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aim to deepen economic, defense and energy ties.
Putin’s visit to India comes at a time when Western sanctions are forcing Moscow to turn to its decades-old ally, demonstrating Russia’s priority of ties with New Delhi.
Russia remains a crucial supplier of Indian military hardware and media reports suggest there are major new defense deals in the making.
The meeting of the two leaders is also expected to address strategic energy cooperation as India remains one of the largest buyers of Russian oil, despite US pressure.
It will also allow Modi to offer behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Modi could try to nudge Putin “to accommodate some Ukrainian and European concerns to bring about a cessation of hostilities,” Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an international affairs expert at the Jindal School of International Affairs near New Delhi, told AP news agency.
Welcome to our coverage
Hello!
Welcome to our coverage of Russian President Vladimir Putin in India.
The two-day state visit beginning Thursday is Putin’s first since the Ukraine war began in 2022.
The visit aims to reset and strengthen ties at a critical geopolitical moment for both countries, as New Delhi tries to balance relations with Moscow and Washington.
The planned talks will focus on relations between the two countries, including in the areas of trade and energy. Putin is seeking to deepen defense ties even as New Delhi faces growing US pressure to stop buying Russian oil.
