Putin, Modi hold summit talks in New Delhi as India backs peace efforts in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened high-level summit talks in New Delhi on Friday, with India rolling out a full state welcome for the Russian leader during his first visit to the country in four years.

Speaking at the start of their meeting, Modi told Putin that India supported all genuine efforts toward securing peace in Ukraine — a carefully balanced message as New Delhi continues to navigate its ties with Moscow while maintaining growing strategic cooperation with Western partners.

Putin’s visit aims to reinforce a decades-old partnership that has come under pressure from shifting geopolitical dynamics and Western sanctions following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. India remains one of Russia’s most important economic partners, particularly as a key buyer of Russian military hardware and seaborne crude oil.

The Kremlin has said it is seeking to expand imports of Indian goods in order to correct the current trade imbalance, heavily tilted toward Russian exports due to India’s large-scale energy purchases. Both countries have set an ambitious target of boosting bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.

India sharply increased its intake of discounted Russian crude after European nations cut their dependence on Moscow’s supplies in response to the war in Ukraine. But those imports have declined this year amid mounting pressure from Washington, including punitive tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued oil purchases from Russia.

Putin’s trip comes as India and the United States remain engaged in negotiations toward a possible trade deal that could roll back these tariffs. The delicate balancing act was on display in New Delhi on Friday, as Modi sought to maintain India’s long-standing defence and energy ties with Russia while signalling alignment with global calls for an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

The summit is expected to focus on defence cooperation, energy trade, currency settlement mechanisms, and measures to expand Indian exports to the Russian market. Both leaders are also likely to discuss regional security issues and the evolving global geopolitical landscape.

Putin’s presence in New Delhi underscores Moscow’s determination to sustain and deepen engagement with its oldest partners in Asia, even as its relations with Western capitals remain at their lowest point in decades.