Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited India for the first time since Russia began its war in Ukraine in February 2022. The visit was very high-profile and came at an important time, as India is also negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States.
A Very Warm Welcome Putin
The Indian government gave President Putin one of the warmest welcomes in recent years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received him on the red carpet at the New Delhi airport. Mr. Modi also hosted Putin for a private dinner at his residence. At the end of the 30-hour visit, President Droupadi Murmu hosted a formal banquet for the Russian leader.
Prime Minister Modi described India-Russia relations as strong and stable, calling them a “pole star (dhruva tara)” that guides both countries.
Modest Outcomes from the Summit
Despite the grand welcome, the actual results of the Modi-Putin summit were limited. Before the visit, there was strong speculation that India and Russia would announce major defence agreements. These were expected to include deals related to aircraft, air defence systems, drones, missiles, and technology transfers.
However, no such announcements were made. Even a meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, held before Putin arrived, ended without any major defence deals.
Focus on Economic Cooperation
Instead of defence, both sides focused mainly on economic cooperation. The talks moved forward a long-term plan called the “India-Russia Economic Cooperation Roadmap till 2030”, earlier launched during Mr. Modi’s visit to Moscow in 2024.
Key agreements included:
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Labour Mobility Agreement:
This will allow skilled Indian workers to work in Russia. Russia is expected to face a shortage of about three million workers by the end of this decade. -
Fertilizer Cooperation:
Indian and Russian fertilizer companies signed an agreement to build a urea plant in Russia. -
Maritime and Trade Agreements:
Agreements were signed on maritime cooperation, ports, and customs to improve trade logistics.
Both countries also agreed to improve trade routes through:
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The Chennai–Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor
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The International North–South Transport Corridor
They also decided to continue efforts to settle bilateral trade using their national currencies instead of the U.S. dollar.
What Was Missing
Some key areas saw no major progress:
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There were no announcements on oil purchases, even though oil accounts for more than $60 billion out of the $69 billion total bilateral trade last year.
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There were no concrete outcomes on space and nuclear cooperation.
Views on the Ukraine War
Both leaders avoided strong public statements on the Ukraine war. India continued its balanced position, calling for diplomacy and dialogue, while Russia appreciated India’s neutral approach. India did not openly criticize Russia’s actions, which remains a sensitive issue for Western countries.
Why the Visit Is Important
President Putin’s visit is significant because it happened at a time when:
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India’s relations with the U.S. have seen some strain
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India is negotiating a free trade agreement with Washington
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Russia faces growing global isolation due to the Ukraine war
By hosting Putin warmly, India showed that it wants to maintain strategic autonomy and keep its long-standing partnership with Russia intact, even while deepening ties with the West.
Conclusion
While the symbolism and diplomatic warmth of Putin’s India visit were strong, the actual results were limited. The summit mainly strengthened economic cooperation and kept India-Russia relations steady, but it stopped short of major defence or strategic breakthroughs.