Russian President Vladimir Putin received a warm, ceremonial welcome on his first visit to India since the start of the war in Ukraine nearly four years ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally greeted Putin on arrival, sharing a hug and a selfie during a short limousine ride. An evening prayer at the Ganges featured devotional lamps that spelled out ‘Welcome Putin’, and the state reception included an honor guard and a brass band.
The visit underscored New Delhi’s intention to preserve and manage its relationship with Moscow even as it faces external pressure to scale that relationship back. Analysts say the trip was meant to demonstrate that India has diplomatic options and will not be forced into a single alignment. Chietigj Bajpaee of Chatham House described the visit as an effort to reaffirm ties at a moment when India has come under growing calls to downgrade or sever its relationship with Russia.
Historical factors help explain the bond between India and Russia. New Delhi’s independent foreign policy has roots in close links with the Soviet Union, forged amid Cold War-era regional dynamics such as Pakistan’s alignment with the United States and a long, contested border with China. Those legacies still shape India-Russia cooperation today.
Putin’s trip also drew attention because his international movements have been constrained since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March 2023. Observers noted that a visit to the world’s largest democracy brings significant global scrutiny. Analyst Swaran Singh said such a visit naturally commands enormous attention.
Following bilateral talks, the two governments announced a package of measures, including an agreement to make it easier for more Indian nationals to work in Russia. Putin, speaking through a translator, said Russia is prepared to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel to support India’s fast-growing economy.
Energy remains central to the partnership. India significantly increased purchases of Russian oil after the invasion of Ukraine and is now one of the world’s largest buyers, at times re-exporting refined products. But recent developments have complicated those flows. Indian firms reduced some purchases after the Trump administration imposed steeper tariffs on imports and as U.S. sanctions targeted certain Russian energy producers. Reliance Industries, a major importer of Russian crude, reportedly stopped buying Russian feedstock for products destined for export to comply with a new European Union ban on refined products of Russian origin from some third countries, including India.
How Russia might maintain ‘uninterrupted’ energy shipments in the face of sanctions and higher tariffs is unclear. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air has documented growing sanction-avoidance tactics by vessels, such as concealing identities and changing flags. Indian officials have pushed back on calls to cut Russian oil purchases as unreasonable, noting that Western countries also continue to buy Russian energy.
At the same time, India has increased purchases of U.S. oil and natural gas, steps some analysts view as a concession to Washington and an effort to reduce its trade deficit. Bajpaee said India is navigating a difficult path: trying to keep close ties with Moscow while deepening engagement with Western partners.
Modi’s prepared remarks acknowledged ‘the situation in Ukraine’ and expressed support for efforts toward a peaceful, lasting resolution, adding that India stands ready to contribute. It was not clear whether he was referring to recent U.S. diplomatic overtures; U.S. envoys met with Putin this week in a high-profile session. Putin told India Today he could not accept some U.S. proposals, offering few specifics.
Leaders on both sides set an ambitious goal of increasing bilateral trade toward a $100 billion target, though current commerce is heavily one-sided and largely centered on India’s purchases of Russian fossil fuels. Observers say India still views the United States as a more forward-looking and strategically vital partner, but New Delhi does not want to sever its longstanding relationship with Moscow under external pressure.
Bajpaee suggested that while the Russia-India relationship may be on a managed decline, it remains strategically important. He also noted that India has maintained robust, functional ties with the United States despite tensions, conducting more joint military exercises with Washington than with any other country this year. From New Delhi’s perspective, recent events have occasionally made Russia appear more dependable than a sometimes unpredictable U.S. policy, reinforcing the calculus behind sustaining ties with Moscow.