President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in India on Thursday for a two‑day visit aimed at strengthening defense ties, even as the United States pressures Moscow to halt oil sales to India. This will be Putin’s first trip to India since the Ukraine war began. He will travel with a delegation that includes Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, and reports suggest a potential fighter‑jet deal could be discussed.
During the visit, Putin will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a private dinner, followed by a summit meeting and a business gathering the next day. The agenda is expected to focus on defense and trade relations, as India tries to balance its reliance on strategic Russian imports with the need to avoid friction with the United States. The supply of Russia’s advanced S‑400 air‑defence systems will be a key topic; India currently operates three units and awaits delivery of two more under a 2018 contract that was stalled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions.
India has long been one of the world’s top arms importers, with Russia historically a primary supplier. However, Delhi’s push to boost domestic production has reduced Russia’s share of Indian arms imports from 76 percent in 2009‑13 to 36 percent in 2019‑23, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The visit comes after the United States imposed 50 percent tariffs on most Indian products in August, citing India’s purchases of Russian oil as a justification. India has become a major buyer of Russian oil, saving billions of dollars and providing Moscow with a crucial export market after European buyers cut off purchases due to the war. Nonetheless, Delhi has recently trimmed crude imports under pressure from sanctions on Russia’s leading oil producers.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed confidence that bilateral business with India can be maintained and expanded without external interference. Nandan Unnikrishnan, a researcher at the Observer Research Foundation, noted that while U.S. pressure may reduce India’s energy purchases, the overall trajectory of the relationship will remain intact because both countries need each other strategically.
The visit offers an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss the global situation, including the Ukraine conflict, and to address the trade imbalance between their nations. Bilateral trade reached $68.7 billion in 2024‑25, but Indian exports accounted for only $4.88 billion. Delhi has been urging Moscow to grant expanded market access for key Indian industries such as pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and services. Experts view the trip as a statement of India’s strategic autonomy and a demonstration of the relationship’s importance to Putin. The meetings are expected to provide a platform for the two nations to reset their ties at a critical geopolitical moment, with significant implications for their strategic partnerships and global alliances.
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