Putin to Arrive in New Delhi on December 4 for Key Summit with PM Modi; Trade Shielding, Defence Deals on Agenda

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday, December 4, ahead of high-stakes summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for Friday, December 5. The annual India–Russia summit, suspended since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, is set to resume after a three-year gap — marking Putin’s first visit to India since the conflict began.

The Kremlin has indicated that the visit will focus on protecting bilateral trade from US sanctions, strengthening defence ties, and expanding cooperation in emerging sectors, including nuclear energy.

What’s on the Agenda: Key Points

• Putin’s first India visit since 2021
Putin will land in the Indian capital on Thursday evening. His meeting with PM Modi on Friday is expected to reaffirm the longstanding strategic partnership at a time when global geopolitical tensions are reshaping global alliances.

• Shielding India–Russia trade from US sanctions
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said Moscow aims to use the summit to “protect trade ties” from expanding sanctions imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The two sides are expected to explore mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted payments, logistics, and energy cooperation.

• Defence cooperation back in focus
A major defence agreement has already been cleared by Russia’s State Duma. The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) pact, ratified earlier this week, will enable the armed forces of both nations to access each other’s bases for logistics and supplies, further deepening military interoperability.

• Nuclear energy and manpower mobility on the table
Russia is expected to pitch small modular reactors (SMRs) for India’s clean-energy transition. New Delhi and Moscow have also finalised a mobility agreement for skilled and semi-skilled manpower, and recently initiated talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union — a move aimed at reducing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.

• India’s strategic autonomy at the forefront
The summit is being closely watched globally as India pushes back against pressure from Washington to scale down its purchases of Russian oil and defence equipment. Officials say the talks offer New Delhi a chance to reinforce its independent foreign policy while strengthening ties with a key strategic partner.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin hailed the RELOS ratification as “another step toward reciprocity and the development of our relations,” underscoring Russia’s intent to reset momentum in bilateral engagement.

Putin’s two-day visit comes at a consequential geopolitical moment — and the outcomes may shape the trajectory of India–Russia ties for years ahead.