Putin to visit India in 2025 for first summit since Ukraine war, confirms Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India in early 2025, following an official invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that the dates for the visit will be finalized early in 2025. This visit will mark Putin's first trip to India since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022. The visit follows a long-standing agreement between India and Russia to hold reciprocal annual meetings between their leaders.

Putin and Modi have maintained regular communication, primarily through telephone conversations. The two leaders also meet in person at international events. The most recent in-person meeting took place in July 2024 during the 22nd Russia-India Annual Summit in Moscow. During this summit, Modi was awarded Russia’s highest national award, the "Order of St. Andrew the Apostle," in recognition of his contributions to strengthening India-Russia relations. Modi also visited Russia for the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.

India and Russia share a strategic partnership that spans several areas, including defense, energy, and trade. Russia is one of India’s largest suppliers of defense equipment, including military aircraft, submarines, and advanced technology. India has also sought to deepen its cooperation with Russia in the nuclear energy sector, with multiple projects underway, including the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, which is being developed with assistance from Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation.

Bilateral trade between India and Russia has been growing steadily in recent years. Russia is a key source of energy for India, particularly crude oil. Following the changes in global energy markets, the volume of crude oil imports from Russia to India has increased significantly. In addition to energy, the two countries have focused on expanding cooperation in sectors such as space exploration, technology, and scientific research. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has collaborated with Russian organizations on various space missions, including satellite launches.

In November 2024, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov visited India to hold discussions with Indian officials on expanding trade and business cooperation. Manturov participated in the plenary session of the Russian-Indian Business Forum in Mumbai, which focused on enhancing economic relations between the two countries. He also took part in the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation in New Delhi, where various bilateral issues were discussed.

President Putin’s upcoming visit to India is expected to provide an opportunity to address a broad range of issues, including defense, trade, energy, regional security, and international diplomacy. Both nations are likely to discuss ongoing global developments, including the situation in Ukraine, as well as furthering their strategic partnership in key areas. This visit will also be an opportunity to review the progress of joint projects and explore new avenues for cooperation in sectors such as high technology, education, and infrastructure.