Modi ready for trade, energy talks with Putin amid US pressure – DW – 12/05/2025

On the second day of the 23rd Russia-India Summit in New Delhi, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to Indian officials, the annual summit is expected to focus on defence, energy and trade, even as India faces US pressure on purchasing Russian oil.

The meeting between the leaders comes as New Delhi seeks to balance ties with Moscow and Washington against the backdrop of the Ukraine war and US tariffs of 50% on most Indian goods.

India has been the second largest importer of Russian crude oil after China. Therefore, energy security is expected to be a big topic of discussion.

While India has long maintained close ties with Russia, critics say Putin’s visit could strain relations with the European Union and the United States, complicating key export negotiations.

Putin last visited India in 2021, but Modi and Putin last met during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in September.

Friday marks the second day of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, in which the leaders will discuss trade and energy ties.

Putin arrived in India on Thursday, with the two leaders holding private talks that evening at the official residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India is under US pressure to cut purchases of Russian oil, with US President Donald Trump imposing 50% tariffs on Indian goods in August.

At the same time, Indian negotiators are trying to make a trade agreement with the US as well as the European Union.

As Putin and Modi dine and hold private talks on Thursday night, we are pausing this live blog.

We will be back with further developments during Putin’s visit to India as they become available. Check back later for updates.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is “very happy” to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he has called his “friend”.

Modi welcomed Putin at New Delhi’s Palam airport and the couple boarded a limousine waiting on the runway.

According to Russian state agency TASS, Putin and Modi stayed in the car for 50 minutes after reaching their destination to continue their face-to-face talks.

Putin’s visit to India is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations between Russia and India, covering a wide range of areas.

“The scope of our cooperation with India is huge,” Putin said in an interview with broadcaster India Today.

The Russian leader pointed to ship and aircraft building, nuclear energy and space exploration.

Despite increasing pressure from Western leaders – especially US President Donald Trump, India has continued to buy Russian energy.

The US President wants India to stop buying Russian oil and gas to force Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

The interview with Putin was scheduled to be aired after he landed in the Indian capital for talks with Modi.

The transcript was provided to Reuters news agency by India Today.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was happy to welcome “his) friend” Russian President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi.

Putin is on a two-day state visit to India as he looks to boost economic, defense and energy ties.

In a post on Twitter, Modi said he was “looking forward to our talks” on Thursday evening and Friday.

Modi said, “India-Russia friendship has stood the test of time and has greatly benefited our people.”

Indian broadcasters said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has reached India’s capital New Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes the Russian President on a red carpet at the airport. The leaders are scheduled to have a private dinner tonight.

Putin is on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties between the two countries.

This is Putin’s first visit since Russia’s war in Ukraine began in February 2022.

Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit, the country’s Trade Minister on Thursday said India is planning to increase diversified exports to Russia.

India aims to increase sales of automobiles, electronic goods, textiles and machinery to Russia as it seeks to address trade imbalance, trade minister said.

The German Foreign Ministry rejected India’s criticism of an opinion article co-written by German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann with the ambassadors of France and Britain and said envoys are expected to communicate publicly about the situation in their countries.

Op-ed published ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India The Times of India The newspaper, titled “World wants Ukraine war to end, but Russia doesn’t appear serious about peace”, stated that “Russia could end the war tomorrow by withdrawing its troops and ending its illegal invasion of Ukraine” but chose not to do so.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs reacted strongly to the op-ed, saying it was “not an acceptable diplomatic practice to give advice on relations with third countries.”

‘Presentation of the German position’

The German Foreign Ministry responded to the criticism, saying “The article presents an assessment of Russia’s behavior that is shared by most countries around the world. It was published jointly with other countries… This is not interference, but a representation of the German position.”

Additionally, the ministry responded to the Russian Ambassador to India publishing an opinion piece criticizing Europe, saying, “It is always a good idea to stick to your opinion and spread your opinion… and frankly, we do not care what the reaction is from the Russian ambassador somewhere in the world.”

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

What is Putin’s schedule during his visit?

• Private dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening

• According to the news channel, go to Rajghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi, on Friday morning. ndtv

• Will participate in the 23rd India-Russia summit with Modi on Friday

What are the topics on the agenda?

• Energy: India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. However, it has been a sore point for US President Donald Trump. India says it won’t turn off Russian energy completely, prioritizing energy security for 1.45 billion people
• Defence: India currently has three Russian S-400 air defense system units, with delivery of two more pending under a 2018 deal
• Local media reports say Moscow may also offer co-production of Russia’s Su-57 fighter jets
• Trade: Bilateral trade between the two countries is set to reach $68.7 billion in 2024-25, but Indian exports stand at only $4.88 billion, creating a huge imbalance.
• India seeks better Russian market access for pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture, textiles and services sectors
• New Delhi also wants long-term supply of fertilizers from Moscow
• Migration: Modi government also wants regulated migration of Indian skilled workers to Russia
• Ukraine: On Ukraine war, Modi keeps calling for peaceful solution but does not condemn Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India underlines the partnership between Moscow and New Delhi that has endured amid nearly eight decades of geopolitical turmoil.

Ahead of the visit, Kremlin spokesman and Putin’s chief of staff Dmitry Peskov underlined the importance of protecting India-Russia bilateral relations and trade.

His comments come as India faces US tariffs on buying Russian oil and Russia faces ever-increasing Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine. read more

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, reflecting Russia’s priority in relations with New Delhi.

Russia remains an important supplier of Indian military hardware and media reports suggest that major new defense deals are on the way.

Strategic energy cooperation is also expected to be discussed in the meeting of the two leaders 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. Shriram Sundar Chaulia, an international affairs expert at the Jindal School of International Affairs near New Delhi, told the AP news agency that Modi may try to provoke Putin into accommodating some Ukrainian and European concerns in order to end hostilities.

hello!

Welcome to our coverage of Russian President Vladimir Putin in India.

The two-day state visit starting Thursday is Putin’s first since the Ukraine war began in 2022.

The visit aims to reestablish and strengthen ties at a crucial geopolitical moment for both countries, as New Delhi tries to balance relations with Moscow and Washington.

The planned talks will focus on relations between the two countries, including in the areas of trade and energy. Putin is trying to deepen defense ties, while New Delhi faces growing US pressure to stop buying Russian oil.