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Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit and agreed to diversify mutual economic ties, as the United States presses India to revise its decades-old partnership with Russia.
The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes at a pivotal moment as the US pushes for a Ukraine peace deal while seeking global cooperation. It will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on.
Putin was received by Modi at an airport in Delhi on Thursday. The Indian leader gave Putin a bear hug and a tight handshake with the gusto of an old friend.
After the talks, Putin and Modi announced that India and Russia have finalised an economic cooperation programme until 2030, which will help diversify mutual businesses to boost annual trade to US$100 billion by 2030. They also emphasised strong energy ties.
Russia is a reliable supplier of energy resources and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at US$68.7 billion in the last financial year ended March. The trade is heavily skewed in favour of Russia with deep deficits for India, which it is looking to bridge by pushing exports.
“To achieve this significant goal, a programme for the development of Russian-Indian economic cooperation until 2030 has been agreed upon,” Putin said. He said work was under way on an agreement for India to establish a free-trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-dominated economic grouping of several ex-Soviet nations, adding that it could help increase trade.
“Russia is a reliable supplier of energy resources and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector,” Putin said. “We are ready to continue ensuring the uninterrupted supply of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”
Before the summit talks, the Russian leader said the two countries “have a very trusting relationship when it comes to military-technical cooperation.”
Modi said after the talks that the two countries would work towards early conclusion of a free-trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. He also announced that India would soon start issuing free electronic visas for Russian tourists and groups visiting the country.

The Indian leader said energy security had long anchored India-Russia ties, with civil nuclear cooperation spanning decades. He added that such cooperation would continue, alongside collaboration in clean energy, shipbuilding, fertilisers and labour mobility.
While India has historically maintained deep ties with Russia, critics say Putin’s visit could strain relations with the European Union and the US and might jeopardise negotiations for major trade agreements with both that are seen as critical for India’s exports.
US President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent in August, citing Delhi’s discounted Russian oil. India has been the second biggest importer of Russian crude after China.
Indian officials earlier said that Modi in the meeting with Putin would push for faster delivery of two further Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. It has already received three under a 2018 deal worth about US$5.4 billion. The delay has been tied to supply chain disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine.
India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the defence ministers of India and Russia met on Thursday.
In a joint statement following the summit, the two sides said they had agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts and components for maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment. This would be done through transfer of technology and setting up of joint ventures.
India and Russia signed a pact in February to improve military cooperation, exercises, port calls, disaster relief assistance and logistics support. Moscow’s State Duma ratified the agreement ahead of Putin’s visit to India.
India is also expecting to upgrade its Russian-made Su-30MKI fighter jets and accelerate deliveries of critical military hardware.
Putin last visited India in 2021. Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.


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India

India and Russia agree to boost trade to US$100 billion by 2030

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embrace at the Palam Air Base in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo: Sputnik/Kremlin/AP

Energy security has long anchored India-Russia ties. In recent years, India has been the second biggest importer of Russian crude after China. Photo: Reuters

As Putin visits New Delhi, can India rely on Russia as a ‘time-tested’ defence partner?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: AP

Russian S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system on Red Square in Moscow in 2019. The system played a key role in India’s clash with Pakistan in May. Photo: Xinhua

Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh (wearing turban) briefed by crew members of Russia’s Su-57 fighter aircraft at an airbase in Bengaluru, India, in February. Photo: AP

India’s Modi to pitch arms deal to Russia, Putin despite US efforts

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 22. Photo: dpa

Indian military personnel stand by Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets at a military airbase during the Garuda 2025 French-Indian military cooperation exercise in Mont-de-Marsan, southwestern France, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Russia’s Su-57 offer boosts India’s ‘strategic options’ amid strained US ties

A US F-35 jet flies over Russia’s Su-57 fighter aircraft during an air show at Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru, India, in February. Photo: AP

A naval officer walks past the BrahMos weapon systems during a rehearsal for a Republic Day parade in New Delhi in January. The BrahMos missile system is an Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile joint venture. Photo: Reuters

Soldiers in Russian-made T-90 tanks during a ceremony to celebrate Army Day in New Delhi in 2021. Russia has been India’s primary military supplier for years. Photo: AFP

Visitors stand next to a prototype of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, at an air show in Bengaluru, India, in February. Photo: Reuters

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India’s Modi greeted Putin with a bear hug before announcing free electronic visas for Russian tourists


India’s Modi greeted Putin with a bear hug before announcing free electronic visas for Russian tourists.


India and Russia agree to boost trade to US$100 billion by 2030

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}India’s Modi greeted Putin with a bear hug before announcing free electronic visas for Russian tourists

India’s Modi greeted Putin with a bear hug before announcing free electronic visas for Russian tourists