Vladimir Putin to land in Delhi on December 4: India-Russia summit to focus on sanctions, defence deals

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to reach New Delhi on Thursday, December 4, ahead of the annual India-Russia summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for Friday, December 5. This will be Putin's first visit to India since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Also Read | US plans sweeping travel restrictions; over 30 nations may be added to new ban list after DC shooting

Summit returns after a gap

As per a report by the Hindustan Times, the annual India-Russia summit, which was held regularly before the Ukraine conflict, is resuming after many years of interruption. Officials said the two leaders would spend their meeting on December 5 reviewing bilateral cooperation, with a sharp focus on defence, trade, and energy.

According to a Kremlin media brief, Putin’s spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stressed that Russia intends to use the summit to ensure India-Russia trade remains insulated from sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration.

Trade protection and economic discussions

As per the report by the Hindustan Times, measures to safeguard bilateral trade flows from the impact of US restrictions are foremost on the agenda. These talks will likely address payment mechanisms, logistics, and enhancing supply chains that have come under pressure in recent times. Moscow is also likely to present an offer regarding small modular reactors as part of continued cooperation in the nuclear energy sphere.

Negotiations have also started on a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, a five-member grouping led by Russia. The proposed pact is likely to sort out India's concerns relating to tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers, said an official of the external affairs ministry.

Also Read | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announces protests in Islamabad, Rawalpindi over ‘restrictions’ on meeting Imran Khan

Defence cooperation gets a boost

Defence ties, a cornerstone of India-Russia relations, are set to receive renewed momentum during the visit. Russia's State Duma has ratified the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) agreement signed between the two governments earlier this year on February 18. The pact will allow enhanced operational cooperation between the two militaries. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said, “Our relations with India are strategic and comprehensive, and we value them. We understand that today's ratification of the agreement is another step toward reciprocity and, of course, the development of our relations.”