India-Russia Summit 2025: Major Deals, $100 Billion Trade Target & Strategic Partnership

Russian President Vladimir Putin came on a two-day visit to India for the 23rd annual India-Russia summit. This was Putin’s first visit to India since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. This visit was held to mark the 25 years of the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”

Key Highlights from the India-Russia Summit 2025

• Putin landed in India on Thursday, that is, 4th December. 
• Firstly, Putin was personally received by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. 
• Then they travelled in the same car, doing carpooling, from the airport to the Prime Minister’s residence, that is, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.
• At PM’s official residence, a private dinner was hosted, symbolising the gesture of hospitality for Putin.
• The next day, that is on Friday, 5th December, Putin visited the Rashtrapati Bhawan, where a ceremonial welcome took place.
• Putin visited the Rajghat to pay tribute to “the father of the Indian nation”, Mahatma Gandhi. 
• PM Modi shared his perspective on taking the India-Russia economic partnership to greater heights.
• The purpose of the summit was to focus on defence, energy and trade. 
• They had discussions on multiple agreements and MoUs, regarding the fields of shipping, healthcare, fertilisers, and connectivity.
• During the joint briefing of PM Modi and President Putin, PM Modi announced a new economic cooperation programme, which aims at expanding bilateral trade volume to $100 billion by the year of 2030. This programme will boost the ties between India and Russia.
• They even spoke on a business forum, where they discussed regarding the Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union.
• As New Delhi was facing US tariffs of 50%, which is partially linked to the purchase of Russian oil, so Putin sent a message to the West, particularly Washington, declaring that Moscow is ready to ensure that there will be no interruption in shipments of fuel to India.
• The defence ministers of both the countries had a wide-ranging discussion about India’s plan to procure additional batches of S-400 air defence systems and the deliveries yet pending of military hardware delayed by the Ukraine war.
• Then, Putin travelled with a large group of businessmen for improving trading relations.
• They had lunch at the Hyderabad House, which is the traditional venue for India's highest-level bilateral engagements.
• Later on, Putin initiated a new India-based channel of the Russian state broadcaster.
• Putin was interviewed by ‘India Today’, a prominent news channel of India. In this interview, he said, “PM Modi lives and breathes India. India is a great power, not an English or British colony, and everyone will have to take that into account. Indians can indeed take pride in their leader, as PM Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure daily. His stance is unwavering and straightforward, without being confrontational. Our goal is not to provoke conflict; rather, we aim to protect our lawful rights, and India does the same.” When asked about PM Modi’s stance on the tariffs imposed by the US President Donald Trump, he said, “Modi is not one to give in to pressure.” When questioned about Trump’s remark on India’s Russian oil purchases, he said, “As for India’s purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned publicly this once, the United States itself buy nuclear fuels from us for its own nuclear power plants.”
• In the evening, Putin again visited the Rashtrapati Bhawan for a special banquet dinner hosted by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, in honour of the arrival of the Russia’s President.
• Post-dinner, PM Modi presented a pleasant gift to Putin. The gift was a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita, quoting that, “the teachings of the Gita offer inspiration to millions across the world.”
• Before leaving, Putin heartily invited PM Modi to Moscow for the next India-Russia summit, held in 2026.
• PM Modi posted the pictures with him on social media platforms, sharing the happy moments spent with his good friend, the President of Russia.