Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched high-level talks in New Delhi on Friday, marking Putin’s first visit to India in four years and underscoring deepening ties between the two long-standing partners. Modi used the opening session to reaffirm India’s support for diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The summit comes at a sensitive moment for New Delhi, which is balancing its strategic relationship with Moscow while negotiating a trade agreement with Washington aimed at easing U.S. tariffs linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil.
Modi opened the talks by stressing that New Delhi has a clear position on ending the conflict.
“India is not neutral, India has a position, and that position is for peace,” he told Putin. “We support every effort for peace, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with every initiative taken for peace.”
Putin thanked Modi for what he described as India’s “attention and efforts” to help move toward a settlement. He said Russia had briefed India in detail on recent diplomatic steps taken with other partners, including the United States.
“We discussed what is happening on the Ukrainian track and the steps we are taking jointly with some other partners, including the United States, toward a possible peaceful settlement,” Putin said.
Putin arrived in India just one day after meeting former U.S. advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow for further discussions on a potential peace proposal. The talks, however, failed to produce a breakthrough. Ukrainian officials, including chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, are expected to meet Trump’s envoys in Florida later on Friday.
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The visit highlights Russia’s push to shore up its economic partnerships as Western sanctions tighten. India remains a crucial market for Russian weapons and seaborne crude, though its imports of discounted oil have declined this year under pressure from U.S. tariffs and financial restrictions.
Moscow wants to expand overall trade to $100 billion by 2030, a target that requires boosting Indian exports to rebalance a relationship dominated by energy purchases.
Putin said the countries have “expanding opportunities” as their economies grow, citing cooperation in aviation, space technology, artificial intelligence and long-standing military ties.
India’s defense ministry said Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov met Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on Thursday, where Moscow reiterated its readiness to support India’s domestic defense manufacturing goals. “The Russian defense industry is ready to support India towards becoming self-reliant,” the ministry said.
Indian firms are also expected to seal an agreement with Russian fertilizer giant Uralchem to build a urea plant in Russia, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, Russia’s Gazprombank and Alfa Bank have applied for permission to operate in India to facilitate trade.
Putin arrived in New Delhi late Thursday to a warm, high-profile reception, including an embrace from Modi on the airport tarmac and a private dinner. On Friday morning, he received a ceremonial welcome at the presidential palace, complete with a 21-gun salute.