Putin Visits India Amid Ukraine Peace Push: What’s on the Agenda?
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India on September 1, 2025, engaging in talks with Indian leadership amidst a backdrop of shifting global dynamics and a push for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The visit highlighted the enduring, though evolving, relationship between the two nations.
In which sector are India-russia ties strong?
Despite challenges in bilateral energy ties, the defense sector remains a cornerstone of the India-Russia partnership. Russia continues to be India’s largest defense supplier, currently accounting for approximately 36 percent of India’s arms imports and comprising over 60 percent of the country’s existing military arsenal.
While Russia’s share of India’s arms imports has decreased from 72 percent in 2010 – due to India’s efforts to bolster domestic production and diversify suppliers to include the US and European nations – experts anticipate Russia will maintain its position as India’s primary defense partner for the foreseeable future.
The Russian S-400 missile defense system proved crucial during a four-day air war with Pakistan in May, with Indian Air Force Chief Marshal AP Singh stating that “the S-400 was a game changer” for India. New Delhi is now considering the purchase of additional S-400 systems, and Russia is seeking to sell India its Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets. Dmitry Peskov,Putin’s press secretary,described the Su-57 as “the best plane in the world” and confirmed it would be a topic of discussion during the summit.
What are India-Russia trade prospects?
India-Russia trade has experienced notable growth since 2022, surging from $10 billion to nearly $69 billion this year, largely driven by India’s increased imports of discounted Russian crude oil. However, this trade remains heavily imbalanced. Indian exports, primarily consisting of pharmaceuticals and machinery, total roughly $5 billion, resulting in a considerable trade deficit of $64 billion.
Over the past three years, oil has dominated Russia’s exports to India. Experts predict that as oil prices stabilize, overall trade volume will likely decrease, making the initial goal of reaching $100 billion in trade by 2030 appear increasingly distant.
Currently, both countries are exploring labor migration as a potential driver of economic and interpersonal ties. The Russian Ministry of Labour estimates a workforce shortfall of 3.1 million workers by 2030, a gap Indian workers could potentially fill.
“Russia is opening up its labour market for India and looking to change its traditional supplier of labour from Central Asian countries to India,” explained Kumar, a professor of international studies. “This kind of migration can have a positive impact on India-Russia relations.”
Despite these developments, India remains mindful of maintaining strong relations with the United States. New Delhi is simultaneously pursuing trade agreements with the US, the European Union, and the Eurasian Economic union, led by Russia, requiring a delicate balancing act to avoid antagonizing any of these key economic partners.
Analysts suggest that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would significantly benefit the overall stability of the region and potentially strengthen india-Russia relations.
