Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India in the first week of December for the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, which will be his first visit since Russia launched the Ukraine war in February 2022.
December 5–6 is under consideration for the summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is to travel to India in November to seal the agenda, diplomatic sources said. The government is also considering whether to host the summit outside New Delhi and Jaipur, Agra, and Goa have come as possible locations.
First Putin Visit to India Since Ukraine War
Putin last visited India in December 2021, before the Ukraine war. Since then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a trip to Moscow for last year’s summit and met Putin on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin this year.
In their informal meetings, Modi reaffirmed India’s stance that “no solution can be found on the battlefield,” appealing for dialogue rather than war. President Putin has stayed in close touch with Modi, even calling him personally on his 75th birthday in September.https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/russian-president-putin-set-to-visit-india-in-early-december/article70116791.ece
Chief Agenda: Trade, Defence, Energy
The December summit will be an occasion to take stock of the entire range of India-Russia relations — from trade and defence cooperation, energy partnerships, to regional security.
India continues to walk a tightrope balancing its historic defence and energy alliance with Russia despite U.S. pressure on Russian oil imports. Last month, NATO Secretary Mark Rutte asserted Washington’s tariffs were forcing India to challenge Moscow’s Ukraine policy — a claim New Delhi forcefully rejected.
Russian Deputy Ambassador Roman Babushkin recently emphasized Moscow’s willingness to provide India with “sophisticated weapons such as 5th generation fighter aircraft, co-production of components, and licensed production.”
India will be looking forward for getting remaining S 400 air defense missiles delivered timely. S400 is critical for India’s security as recently witnessed during Operation Sindoor.
US Tariffs and Geopolitical Context
The visit follows a background of U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to add a further 25% tariff on Indian imports tied to Russian oil purchases. Russia has openly supported India’s freedom of choice in trading partners, condemning U.S. coercive measures.
At a time when global geopolitics is marked by shifting alliances and trade disputes, Putin’s presence in India signals Moscow’s intent to reinforce its role as a key strategic partner for New Delhi.
Expert View: More Than Defence
Analyst say, that the summit carries “very important” weight, given the turbulence in world affairs caused by Washington’s policies.
The President Putin visit to India would be a highly significant one coming as it does at a time of global crisis,” he stated. “In addition to defence and oil, India and Russia need to do more to take the people-to-people relations to greater depth and breadth. Otherwise, our trade and strategic relations will not go deeper and broader.”
Looking Ahead
For New Delhi, the Putin-Modi summit is not merely about reiterating the “Time Tasted” partnership but about working on its future course during a period of international uncertainty. At stake are defence, energy, and regional security, and the December visit may be crucial in determining the way India balances its relations with both Moscow and Washington in the years to come.
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