Russian President Vladimir Putin is anticipated to arrive in India around December 5th for crucial annual summit discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These talks are poised to yield substantial agreements, further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, according to sources close to the matter on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Extensive preparations are currently in progress for this high-profile visit. However, details regarding the duration of President Putin’s stay—whether a single day or two—remain unconfirmed.
Preceding President Putin’s arrival, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to visit India next month. His mission will be to finalize all intricate arrangements for the upcoming presidential visit.
President Putin’s last visit to India’s capital, New Delhi, took place in 2021.
Sources indicate that a meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) is also planned before President Putin’s trip, highlighting ongoing defense collaboration.
During the annual India-Russia summit, Prime Minister Modi and President Putin are set to discuss avenues for deepening their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” Official dates for President Putin’s journey are still awaiting confirmation.
Key areas for discussion are likely to include enhanced cooperation in defense, security, trade, and energy sectors, as per the same sources.
Both India and Russia maintain a structured mechanism where their respective leaders convene annually to comprehensively review the breadth of their bilateral relationship. To date, 22 such annual summits have been hosted alternately by each nation.
Last July, Prime Minister Modi visited Moscow for the previous annual summit. Russia consistently stands as a reliable ally for India, forming a crucial foundation of New Delhi’s foreign policy approach.
Reports suggest that India might seek to acquire more S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia, especially after their pivotal performance during Operation Sindoor.
Back in October 2018, India finalized a $5 billion agreement with Russia for five S-400 air defense missile systems. This deal proceeded despite explicit warnings from the then-Trump administration about potential U.S. sanctions.
To date, Russia has delivered three of the five S-400 regiments ordered by India, with the final two slated for arrival in 2026. This delivery timeline experienced delays attributed to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Just last month, Prime Minister Modi and President Putin convened for discussions on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annual summit, held in the Chinese city of Tianjin.
During these recent discussions, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fortifying strategic ties. This meeting notably occurred shortly after the U.S. imposed a dramatic increase in tariffs on Indian goods, reaching 50%, with an additional 25% duty specifically targeting India’s acquisition of Russian crude oil.
India has consistently defended its procurement of Russian crude oil, asserting that its energy acquisition policies are guided by national interests and global market forces.
In his televised opening statement at the summit, Prime Minister Modi conveyed to President Putin the eager anticipation of 1.4 billion Indians for his December visit to their country.
Modi emphasized, “This partnership showcases the profound depth and broad scope of our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. India and Russia have consistently demonstrated solidarity, standing together even through the most challenging times.”
He further articulated that robust collaboration between India and Russia is vital not only for the well-being of their own populations but also for fostering global peace, stability, and prosperity.
Discussions during their forthcoming summit are also expected to include deliberations on the ongoing Ukraine conflict.