Putin and Modi Strengthen Economic Ties During Delhi Visit
New Delhi – Russian president Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Delhi on December 5,2025,reaffirming a strategic partnership despite Western pressure and exploring avenues to deepen economic cooperation. The visit comes as India balances its relationship wiht Russia and its engagement with the West.
during the talks,both leaders vowed to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion,though current trade is largely driven by India’s imports of Russian fossil fuels. A new agreement was also signed to facilitate increased Indian labor opportunities in Russia.
Some analysts have interpreted India’s increased purchases of Russian energy as a gesture toward the Trump management, while also aiming to reduce India’s trade deficit with the U.S.
Modi addressed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, referring to it as “the situation in ukraine” and stating India’s readiness to contribute to a “peaceful and lasting resolution.” It remains unclear whether Modi was referencing current U.S. efforts to end the war, spearheaded by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who recently held five hours of talks with Putin and his team. Putin told India Today that “we can’t agree to” some of the administration’s proposals, declining to elaborate.
“India is navigating a difficult path,” said Bajpaee of Chatham House. ”It’s trying to maintain close relations with Moscow and at the same time deepen engagement with the West.”
Despite the strengthening ties, Bajpaee added that the long-term trend suggests a “managed decline” in the India-Russia relationship.He emphasized the strength of the India-U.S.partnership, noting that India conducts more joint military exercises with the U.S.than with any othre country, completing five such exercises in 2025 alone.
Bajpaee also stated that, from New Delhi’s perspective, Russia has recently appeared as a “more reliable partner compared to the U.S.’ fickle and sometimes unpredictable behaviour.”
