Putin in India: Defense, energy and trade on the agenda

As Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to begin a two-day visit to India defense and trade relations will be the major talking point between the two countries.

What is Putin's schedule during his visit?

• Private dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening
• Visit Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, on Friday morning, according to news channel NDTV.
• Attend the 23rd India-Russia summit with Modi on Friday

What topics are on the agenda?

• ENERGY: India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. However, this has been a sore point for the US President Donald Trump. India says it will not cut Russian energy off entirely, prioritizing energy security for 1.45 billion people
• DEFENSE: India currently has three Russian S-400 air defense system units, with delivery of two more pending under a 2018 deal
• Moscow may also offer co-production of Russia's Su-57 fighter jets, local media reports said
• TRADE: Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $68.7 billion in 2024–25, but Indian exports were only $4.88 billion, creating a major imbalance
• India wants better Russian market access for pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture, textiles, and services sectors
• New Delhi also seeks long-term supplies of fertilizers from Moscow
• MIGRATION: Modi government also wants regulated migration of Indian skilled workers to Russia
• UKRAINE: On the Ukraine war, Modi continues to call for a peaceful resolution but does not condemn Russia

What is the importance of Putin's visit?

Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin his two-day state visit to India on Thursday as he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aim to deepen economic, defense and energy ties.

Putin's visit to India comes at a time when Western sanctions are forcing Moscow to turn to its decades-old ally, demonstrating Russia's priority of ties with New Delhi.

Russia remains a crucial supplier of Indian military hardware and media reports suggest there are major new defense deals in the making.

The meeting of the two leaders is also expected to address strategic energy cooperation as India remains one of the largest buyers of Russian oil, despite US pressure.

It will also allow Modi to offer behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Modi could try to nudge Putin "to accommodate some Ukrainian and European concerns to bring about a cessation of hostilities," Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an international affairs expert at the Jindal School of International Affairs near New Delhi, told AP news agency.