When Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in early December 2025, the world watched closely. The visit, marked by full ceremonial honors and a packed schedule of delegation-level talks, was more than a diplomatic formality—it was a strategic statement. According to One World Outlook, the message was clear: India is determined to chart its own course in global affairs, pushing back against the idea that Western powers can dictate its grand strategic choices.
Putin’s arrival came at a time of heightened geopolitical tension. Western sanctions on Moscow, a sharpening US–China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific, and a fragile India–US trade and technology compact all converged to create a complex backdrop for the summit. Yet, India’s actions spoke volumes. By welcoming Putin with open arms, including ceremonies at Rajghat and Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi signaled that Russia remains a first-tier partner, not a relic of the past to be quietly retired under Western pressure.
As the summit unfolded, the defense communiques made it unmistakably clear: India has no intention of weakening its military ties with Russia merely to appease the United States. In fact, India still sources roughly two-thirds of its major military platforms from Russia, and Moscow continues to deliver S-400 air defense systems—key to India’s missile shield against both China and Pakistan. The 2025 agenda, as highlighted by One World Outlook, leans heavily toward co-development. That means joint research and development, manufacturing arrangements, maintenance hubs, and advanced projects in engines, hypersonics, and unmanned systems. This isn’t just a buyer–seller relationship; it’s a partnership evolving with the times.
Energy was also front and center. Putin assured Indian officials that Russia would remain an “uninterrupted” supplier of discounted crude and other fuels, insulating their energy ties from the turbulence of global geopolitics. This commitment comes at a crucial time for India. Since September 2025, New Delhi has been forced to reduce its Russian crude imports due to a 25 percent penalty tariff imposed by the United States. Secondary sanctions and tariff pressures have begun to bite, making diversified energy sources a top priority for Indian policymakers.
But India’s balancing act goes far beyond oil and defense. Since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, India has maintained regular contact with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Zelenskyy at least eight times and met him on four occasions, with their most recent call taking place on August 30, 2025. The timing is no coincidence—discussions between Indian and Ukrainian officials about a possible visit by Zelenskyy to India have been ongoing for several weeks, even before Putin’s trip.
The scope and timing of a potential Zelenskyy visit remain uncertain, influenced by developments on the battlefield, the unfolding of former US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, and domestic politics in Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s government has recently been rocked by a sweeping corruption scandal, leading to the resignation of his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. According to sources cited by The Indian Express, New Delhi is now reaching out to new officials in Kyiv to continue the dialogue and work out mutually convenient dates for a visit.
Throughout these diplomatic maneuvers, India has consistently framed its position as one of principled peace. As Modi put it during his meeting with Putin on December 5, “India is not neutral, India is on the side of peace.” He reiterated, “India has always advocated for peace regarding Ukraine. We welcome all efforts being made for a peaceful and lasting resolution of this issue. India has always been ready to contribute and will continue to do so.”
This language echoes Modi’s earlier remarks to Zelenskyy during his visit to Ukraine in August 2024: “We have stayed away from the war, but we are not neutral, we are in favour of peace. We come from the land of Buddha and (Mahatma) Gandhi with a message of peace.”
Interestingly, both the joint statement from Modi and Putin and their public remarks avoided using the words “war” or “conflict,” instead referring to the Ukraine situation as a “crisis.” This marks a subtle shift from Modi’s earlier messaging. In September 2022, he told Putin, “this is not the era of war.” And in July 2024, during a meeting in Moscow, Modi emphasized that “solutions can’t be found on the battlefield.”
Putin, for his part, kept his comments measured, stating only that he and Modi spoke “in detail on the situation in Ukraine” and on US-initiated talks toward a “possible peaceful settlement of this crisis.” The lack of explicit references to the war in the joint statement did not go unnoticed by observers, especially in Europe, where several envoys have urged India to use its influence to push Moscow toward ending the conflict.
Despite these pressures, India’s approach remains one of strategic autonomy. Rather than aligning fully with Western sanctions or choosing sides in great power rivalries, New Delhi is advertising what One World Outlook describes as “a pivotal democracy that cooperates deeply with the US while retaining decisive room for manoeuvre with Russia and the Global South.” This strategy allows India to benefit from Russian leverage in Central Asia and legacy defense support, while also tapping the US for high-end semiconductors, aerospace cooperation, and Indo-Pacific maritime balancing.
For Washington, this balancing act presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Pushing India to sever its Russian ties, according to analysts, risks nudging New Delhi back toward a more traditional non-alignment that could dilute US influence in the region. Instead, understanding India’s broader strategy may yield better results for all parties involved.
As the dust settles on Putin’s visit, the real story is how India continues to walk its diplomatic tightrope. Engaged with both Moscow and Kyiv, steadfast in its pursuit of peace, and resolute in defending its strategic autonomy, India is signaling to the world that it will not be boxed in by external pressures. The coming months will reveal how New Delhi’s nuanced diplomacy shapes the next chapter of the Ukraine crisis—and its own place on the global stage.
