Putin and Modi advance defence, nuclear and strategic cooperation
Russian President Vladimir Putin is undertaking a State Visit to India from December 4 to 5, 2025, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit. The visit carries the highest level of diplomatic protocol and ceremonial honour, reflecting the longstanding warmth and strategic depth of India–Russia relations. As he departs Moscow for New Delhi, the Kremlin has underscored the special importance of this visit, noting that the two-day engagement will involve extensive and multi-sectoral dialogue between the delegations of both nations.
Upon his arrival in India, President Putin will be received by Prime Minister Modi at his residence for an informal one-on-one meeting aimed at setting a personal and candid tone for the summit. The following day will commence with an official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, where President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi will formally greet the Russian leader. His itinerary includes Russian-Indian talks in both restricted and expanded formats, an official luncheon accompanied by a cultural program hosted by the Indian prime minister, a meeting with the president of India, and a state reception held in his honour. President Putin will also participate in the Russia–India Business Forum, where business leaders and officials from both sides are expected to explore opportunities for investment, technology exchange and industrial collaboration. In a symbolic gesture of respect, he will lay a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial.
During this State Visit, the leaders will review the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and set a long-term vision for strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.’ High-level discussions will focus on political dialogue, trade and economic engagement, defence and security cooperation, energy partnerships, scientific and technological collaboration, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges. India and Russia will also exchange perspectives on major regional and global developments of mutual interest. Ten intergovernmental documents and over fifteen agreements and memorandums between commercial and non-commercial entities are being prepared for signature, signalling a broad and expanding agenda for cooperation.
Ahead of the summit, the Kremlin emphasized Russia’s continuing commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with India in the peaceful nuclear energy sector. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted that Russia remains an active partner in developing India’s nuclear capabilities, notably through the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu—the largest nuclear power station in India and a flagship symbol of bilateral technological collaboration. Peskov noted that Russia has been involved not only in the construction of nuclear units but also in training Indian nuclear personnel and supplying vital technological inputs. Kudankulam Units 1 and 2, commissioned in 2013 and 2016, are operating at full capacity. Assembly work on Units 3 and 4 is nearing completion, while construction of Units 5 and 6 has already begun. Rosatom has committed to supplying nuclear fuel for all units throughout their operational lifetimes, reinforcing long-term cooperation in the energy sector.
In a significant step toward enhancing defence ties, the Russian State Duma has ratified an intergovernmental agreement outlining procedures for dispatching military personnel, naval ships, and aircraft between India and Russia. The agreement, signed earlier in Moscow in February 2025, will simplify not only the movement of troops and equipment but also the logistics associated with such deployments. The framework will be applied during joint military exercises, training programs, humanitarian missions, disaster relief operations, and other mutually agreed activities. The Cabinet’s explanatory note added that the ratification will streamline the mutual use of airspace and facilitate the entry of Russian and Indian warships into each other’s ports, thereby strengthening operational coordination and strategic defence cooperation.
With its extensive diplomatic schedule, ceremonial engagements, strategic dialogues and wide-ranging agreements, President Vladimir Putin’s State Visit to India is poised to deepen the multidimensional partnership between the two nations. It will provide an essential platform for reviewing progress, addressing contemporary global challenges, advancing new areas of cooperation and reaffirming the enduring character of the India–Russia relationship.
December 4, 2025
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