Putin arriving in India today for December 4-5 summit

New Delhi, Dec 3: Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in India on Thursday, December 4, for a two-day state visit, a meeting that has drawn intense global attention as New Delhi navigates a delicate balance between deepening economic ties with Moscow and managing strategic pressure from Washington.

This will be Putin’s first visit to India since the start of the Ukraine conflict, marking a significant diplomatic moment.

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit will see wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by a ceremonial reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

The visit comes at a time when India’s purchase of Russian crude oil has reshaped India’s energy security, while increasing its exposure to sanctions and geopolitical risk.

Both sides are expected to take stock of the long-standing “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”, which spans defence, nuclear cooperation, trade, energy, and emerging technologies.

The relationship, built over decades, has remained steady even as global alignments shift.

Bilateral trade has surged in the past two years, and discussions continue, boosting Indian exports, expanding cooperation with the Russian Far East, and accelerating connectivity projects such as the North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Route.

This year’s summit follows a series of high-level interactions, including meetings in Moscow in July 2024, Kazan in October 2024, and Tianjin in September 2025.

The leadership has also maintained frequent telephone contact, underscoring the political weight both countries attach to the partnership.

Over the next two days, India and Russia will review progress across key sectors and outline their roadmap for the next decade.

With global powers watching closely, the visit is set to be a defining moment for India’s foreign policy as it seeks to safeguard energy security, preserve strategic autonomy, and manage competing expectations from two major partners, Russia and the United States.