Russian President Vladimir Putin praises PM Modi for resisting US tariffs on Russian oil imports during high-profile India visit.
Putin arrived in New Delhi on 4 December 2025 for a two-day state visit at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation, holding summit talks on 5 December focused on defence, trade, energy, and insulating bilateral ties from external pressures like US tariffs on India’s Russian oil imports, which now account for 35% of its supply despite declining volumes due to sanctions.
Putin praised Modi as a “very wise leader” who resists US coercion, questioning why India faces penalties when America imports Russian nuclear fuel, while Modi gifted a Russian Bhagavad Gita edition during a private dinner and embraced the partnership aiming for $100 billion trade by 2030.
Indian officials confirmed over 10 agreements expected on shipping, healthcare, labour mobility, and small modular reactors, with Putin meeting President Droupadi Murmu amid five Modi-Putin calls in 2025; no direct tariff rebuttal but emphasis on sovereignty.
Warm Welcome Signals Strong Bonds
Prime Minister Modi broke protocol by personally receiving Putin at Palam airport on 4 December, sharing an embrace and a drive to his residence for a private dinner where he presented a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita, symbolising cultural depth in their “professional and personal” ties built on mutual trust.
Putin, on his first India trip since December 2021, described Modi as someone who “lives and breathes India,” prioritising national interests over external pressures, including potential $9-10 billion losses from oil curbs offset by discounted energy savings.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs officials highlighted the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at Hyderabad House as a review of the “privileged strategic partnership” spanning trade, technology, defence, and humanitarian fields, with Kremlin aides noting several intergovernmental and commercial pacts in final stages.
Summit Agenda Targets Trade and Defence Boost
On 5 December, Putin received a tri-services guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, paid respects at Rajghat to Mahatma Gandhi, and joined Modi for talks at Hyderabad House, followed by a FICCI-Roscongress business event at Bharat Mandapam and a state banquet hosted by President Murmu before his 9 pm departure.
Key focuses include boosting Indian exports like agricultural and medical products to Russia to counter US tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump over discounted Russian oil buys, alongside defence deals for Su-57 jets and S-400 systems, civil nuclear energy, and labour mobility.
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov recently affirmed support for India’s self-reliance in defence production, while both leaders aim to shield $65 billion bilateral trade from sanctions, with India as Russia’s top oil and arms buyer.
Key discussions centred on countering US tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump-now at 50%-over India’s purchases of discounted Russian oil, which constitute 35% of its imports despite recent declines due to sanctions on entities like Rosneft.
To balance trade, leaders prioritised boosting Indian exports of agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals, and medical products to Russia, alongside pacts on shipping, healthcare, labour mobility for Indian workers, and small modular nuclear reactors for clean energy.
Over 10 intergovernmental and commercial agreements were anticipated, building on the $65 billion bilateral trade volume where India ranks as Russia’s largest oil buyer and key arms client.
Defence cooperation emerged as a cornerstone, with prospective deals for advanced Su-57 fighter jets and additional S-400 missile systems to bolster India’s capabilities, amid Russia’s endorsement of New Delhi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ self-reliance drive.
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov recently reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to technology transfers and joint ventures, enabling local production of spares and components.
Both sides vowed to insulate ties from geopolitical headwinds, including the Ukraine conflict, through diversified energy routes and BRICS-aligned financial mechanisms.
This 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit thus signals resilience, with Modi and Putin having spoken five times in 2025 reaffirming a “privileged strategic partnership” for mutual prosperity.
Geopolitical Context Amid Ukraine Tensions
This visit follows Putin’s October Valdai Club remarks lauding Modi’s autonomy, a September SCO meeting in Tianjin, and his 4 December talks with Trump envoys on Ukraine peace, underscoring India’s balancing act in a multipolar world.
India’s Russian oil imports, peaking at highs before dipping to three-year lows in December due to Western sanctions on firms like Rosneft, secure energy for 1.4 billion people under global price caps, despite US calls to halt them as funding Moscow’s war.
Over 5,000 police secured Delhi, reflecting the visit’s high profile amid Russia’s push for allies, with Modi-Putin holding five 2025 calls to sustain ties forged over decades.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s steadfast Russia partnership exemplifies sovereign choices that safeguard energy security, economic resilience, and dignity, fostering empathy and dialogue over coercive pressures in line with peace, harmony, and coexistence.
By advancing mutual trade, defence self-reliance, and cultural exchanges like the Gita gift, these ties inspire positive change through cooperation, not confrontation, benefiting global stability.
