Trade, defence in focus as Putin arrives in India today; PM Modi to host private dinner

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday for his first state visit to India since the beginning of the Ukraine war.

The two-day visit comes amid India-US tariff tensions and Washington’s pressure on Delhi to discontinue the purchase of subsidised Russian oil.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a private dinner for Putin, though the Russian leader’s main engagements are scheduled for Friday.

Putin's visit will provide an opportunity for the leadership of India and Russia to review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

On Friday, both Modi and Putin will hold talks at Hyderabad House as part of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. In the afternoon, Putin will attend the India-Russia Business Forum and return to Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu will host a banquet in his honour.

Putin’s visit also marks the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and Russia, established in October 2000. During the Russian President's visit to India in December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership".

Trade is a main focus of Putin’s visit. Bilateral trade between India and Russia reached a record high of 68.7 billion dollars in 2024-25, and the two countries aim to increase it to 100 billion dollars by 2030.

On Wednesday, Russian state media TASS quoted Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov telling reporters that Putin’s India visit is "important" as it "provides the opportunity to comprehensively discuss the entire extensive agenda of Russian-Indian ties".

"It is meant to sign and adopt the whole range of bilateral documents in the various spheres in conclusion of the visit, including the Development Programme of strategic areas of Russian-Indian economic cooperation by 2030," Ushakov said.

Ahead of the key summit, the defence ministers of the two countries will hold talks on Thursday that are likely to focus on India's plan to procure additional batches of S-400 missile systems and other critical military hardware from Russia. The S-400 missile systems proved to be very effective during Operation Sindoor.

Top military officials said the overall focus will be to further expand the already close defence and security ties between the two countries, with a particular focus on ensuring expeditious supply of military hardware from Russia to India.

In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).