Officials said that some of the more sensitive conversations during the visit centred on defence cooperation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin during the joint Press Statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Friday. ANI
New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India served as a steady reaffirmation of India-Russia ties, not a historic turning point, according to diplomats. Discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Russian President included sensitive defence-related conversations, which officials familiar with the meetings said were deliberately kept outside of the public documents released after the visit.
Officials said that the visit should not be interpreted as a major reset. They said the outcomes were broadly in line with the established trajectory of India-Russia ties and did not signal any dramatic shift in policy. Sources said the engagement between the two leaders took place in a visibly warm atmosphere. According to officials, the body language and ease of interaction suggested a comfort level that has grown over time. They added that no unreasonable demands were made by the Russian side and none were expected, reflecting a mature and predictable relationship.
The degree of political signalling was immediately visible. Officials pointed out that the airport reception gesture shown by Prime Minister Modi remains rare. It was only the fourth time in the last five years that the Prime Minister personally went to receive a visiting foreign leader. The earlier occasions were Donald Trump’s arrival in Ahmedabad in February 2020, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit in January 2024, and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s arrival in February 2025. Diplomats said the limited number of such instances underscores the degree of political signalling attached to the airport welcome for Putin.
One of the other visible developments during the visit was the inauguration of Russia Today India, the local arm of RT. RT is a Russian state-funded international news network. The new India bureau will broadcast English news from a studio complex in the National Capital Region (NCR). Diplomats noted that India has traditionally been cautious about permitting foreign media entities to operate extensively. They said the government’s decision to allow RT India, and the fact that Putin inaugurated it personally, indicates political comfort between the two sides.
Officials said that some of the more sensitive conversations during the visit centred on defence cooperation. They described the discussion as focused on sustaining and upgrading existing Russian-origin platforms rather than negotiating headline-grabbing new purchases. According to them, the emphasis was on expanding local manufacture of spares and components for systems such as the Su-30MKI, MiG-29, T-90 tanks, and the S-400 air defence units. They said this reflected a joint understanding that India’s capability plans now require steady support for deployed assets rather than major fresh acquisitions from Russia.
Sources said the delivery of the two remaining S-400 units—of the five purchased by India—came up for discussion, with the Indian side stating that the delay in delivery was affecting its planning and preparations. It is understood that the Russian side has given a commitment that both of the remaining units will be delivered well within 24 months. Diplomats added that Moscow has renewed its pitch for deeper collaboration on advanced systems, including the Su-57 and future air defence technologies, but clarified that these remain exploratory and were not part of the formal outcomes. Officials also underlined that even if India were to agree in principle to explore systems like the Su-57 fighter or the S-500 air defence platform, both would remain years away from any possible deployment in India. They pointed out that Russia’s production priorities, export clearances, and India’s own procurement and testing cycles mean such platforms cannot be inducted in the short term.
Energy and payments were also discussed in detail. Officials said India conveyed its intention to continue calibrated purchases of discounted Russian crude while pressing for predictable long-term arrangements that avoid complications linked to sanctions enforcement. They said the Russian side acknowledged the difficulties created by payment bottlenecks and agreed to work on mechanisms that can make settlements in national currencies more reliable. They noted that Russia now holds a large surplus of rupee balances in Indian banks because of the trade imbalance. According to officials, Moscow expressed interest in investing some of these funds in Indian projects and financial instruments. They said India is open to structured options that fall within its regulatory framework, but stressed that a full revival of the old rupee-ruble model is unlikely until trade flows become more balanced.
In FY2025, India exported $4.9 billion worth of goods to Russia but imported $63.8 billion, leaving a $58.9 billion trade deficit. The broader context for the visit includes India-United States ties that, while steadier than a few months ago, continue to face what diplomats describe as a trust deficit. They attribute this partly to recent actions and statements from the White House under Donald Trump, including Trump’s meeting with the Pakistani army chief and his comments on Operation Sindoor even after India clarified that his assertions were incorrect. Officials said these episodes may continue to influence how India calibrates its engagement with Washington.
Commenting on the visit, former Pentagon official Michael Rubin said the engagement is being read through diverging political filters. According to him, Trump views the reception that Putin got as vindication, while many Americans who oppose him see it as the product of what he called Trump’s poor handling of foreign policy. Rubin also questioned the outreach to Pakistan, calling it a move that could leave the United States with a strategic disadvantage in the long term. Some Indian-based analysts, however, noted that Washington’s posture is shaped partly by domestic political pressures and that India-US cooperation continues across multiple sectors despite periodic disagreements.
According to officials, India has maintained clarity about its approach to the current geopolitical landscape. They said India has made it clear that it will not dilute its long-standing relationship with Russia even as it works with the United States on specific areas of mutual interest. Officials pointed out that although India sharply reduced its oil purchases from Russia, Moscow did not pressure New Delhi to align with its positions. In contrast, they said the United States under Trump has sometimes pushed allies to follow Washington’s preferences. Officials added that India’s decision to stay consistent in its Russia policy has helped maintain trust in Moscow. They also emphasised that India continues to engage with the United States where interests converge, and that this combination of reassurance towards Russia and selective, issue-based cooperation with Washington is shaping India’s current diplomatic posture.
Officials concluded that the outcomes of Putin’s visit are expected to reinforce existing India-Russia ties rather than redefine them, and that the long-term impact will likely be steady rather than transformational.
