Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have reaffirmed their countries’ decades-long partnership with a sweeping new agreement aimed at boosting trade, energy, defense, and technological collaboration. The 23rd Russia-India Summit, held in New Delhi on December 5 and 6, 2025, comes at a moment of heightened international scrutiny, as the United States and European Union ramp up pressure on India to distance itself from Moscow amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Putin’s arrival in New Delhi was met with the warmth of old friends—Modi greeted him at the airport with a bear hug and a tight handshake, a gesture that set the tone for the summit. The leaders’ camaraderie was on full display, with Modi praising Putin’s role in nurturing the bilateral relationship over the past two-and-a-half decades. “His leadership has elevated our mutual ties to new heights in every circumstance. I sincerely thank President Putin, my friend, for his deep friendship with India, and his unwavering commitment,” Modi said, according to AP.
The summit yielded a raft of agreements—16 in total—spanning health, maritime cooperation, fertilizers, customs, academic and media collaboration, and, most notably, defense and nuclear energy. The centerpiece is an economic cooperation program set to run until 2030, with an ambitious target of boosting annual bilateral trade to $100 billion by that year. Bilateral trade already reached $68.7 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025, up 12% from the previous year, but remains heavily skewed in Russia’s favor.
“To achieve this significant goal, a program for the development of Russian-Indian economic cooperation until 2030 has been agreed upon,” Putin announced. “Russia is a reliable supplier of energy resources and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector. We are ready to continue ensuring the uninterrupted supply of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”
The two countries are also working to finalize a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-led bloc of several former Soviet states. Modi emphasized that both sides are “actively working towards the early conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.”
Energy security remains the bedrock of the partnership. India, the world’s second-largest importer of Russian crude after China, has faced mounting criticism from Washington for continuing to buy discounted Russian oil. The Trump administration recently raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, citing New Delhi’s purchases of Russian energy as helping to finance Moscow’s war machine. In October, the U.S. sanctioned two of Russia’s largest oil producers in a bid to force countries like India to scale back imports.
Despite this, Indian officials have insisted that their priority is to secure energy supplies for the nation’s 1.4 billion people and that all purchases comply with international sanctions. India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri stated, “We are continuing our cooperation between the two countries.” He added that Indian oil companies, both private and state-run, make sourcing decisions based on market dynamics and commercial considerations.
Putin’s visit and the deepening Russia-India ties come at a sensitive time for New Delhi, which is also negotiating major trade deals with both the United States and the European Union. Critics warn that closer alignment with Moscow could jeopardize these talks, which are seen as vital for India’s export ambitions. Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, observed, “India’s tilt toward Russia dates back to the Cold War and persists despite its official nonaligned position. The significant change now is its desire to be a strategic partner with the U.S. at the same time, which will be a diplomatic challenge.”
Defense cooperation remains robust, with India pushing for faster delivery of two additional Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems—three have already been delivered under a $5.4 billion deal signed in 2018. Supply chain disruptions linked to the Ukraine war have delayed the remaining shipments. The two sides agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts and components for Russian-origin arms and defense equipment, leveraging technology transfers and joint ventures under India’s “Make-in-India” program. This approach is intended not only to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces but also to allow for exports to friendly third countries.
Beyond defense, the summit saw agreements aimed at increasing Indian exports of pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and textiles to Russia, as well as securing long-term fertilizer supplies from Moscow. There was also a focus on skilled labor mobility, with both countries signing new agreements to regulate and ensure the safety of Indian migrant workers in Russia. Modi highlighted the importance of such initiatives, saying, “Manpower mobility will not only connect our people but also create new strength and new opportunities for both countries.”
Another notable development is India’s plan to introduce free 30-day electronic tourist visas and group visas for Russian citizens, a move designed to boost tourism and people-to-people ties. Modi said, “I am pleased that we will soon be introducing a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a 30-day group tourist visa for Russian citizens.”
The leaders also underscored the importance of critical minerals for the semiconductor industry and clean energy, with plans to strengthen supply chains and support high-tech manufacturing. Nuclear energy cooperation is set to expand, with agreements covering the fuel cycle, life cycle support for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, and discussions about a second nuclear power plant site in India.
Connectivity projects were high on the agenda, too, with both sides prioritizing the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the Northern Sea Route, and the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridors. Cooperation on training Indian seafarers for polar operations is expected to strengthen Arctic collaboration and create new job opportunities for Indian youth.
The summit’s joint statement, while sidestepping direct mention of the Ukraine conflict, did address the broader geopolitical context. Both leaders emphasized the importance of an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory multilateral trade system anchored in the World Trade Organization. They also flagged the need to address tariff and non-tariff barriers, improve logistics, payment mechanisms, insurance, and reinsurance to achieve their ambitious trade goals.
In a nod to contemporary security concerns, the statement expressed worry over the terrorist exploitation of information and communications technologies, including payment platforms, social media, fundraising methods, and the misuse of drones. The leaders agreed to broaden cooperation in these areas to counter emerging threats.
Putin described his talks with Modi as “highly useful,” noting that the discussions took place “in a constructive and friendly atmosphere, in the spirit of the Russia-India special and privileged strategic partnership.” He added, “Mr Prime Minister and I have established close working and personal contacts. We met earlier this year in September at the SCO Summit, we regularly hold telephone conversations, and we keep the development of Russia-India cooperation in all its strategic dimensions, as well as the implementation of key bilateral projects, under our constant personal oversight.”
For India, the summit was a delicate balancing act—deepening ties with Russia while navigating the expectations and pressures of Western partners. Both Modi and Putin projected confidence that their countries’ friendship, described by Modi as “a guiding star,” would remain resilient to external pressure. As the global landscape shifts, the Russia-India partnership appears set to continue evolving, shaped by pragmatism, shared interests, and a long history of mutual trust.
