• Putin's visit to India marks the first since the Ukraine war began, focusing on trade and defense.
• Both nations aim to increase bilateral trade from nearly $69 billion to $100 billion by 2030.
• Modi reaffirms India's commitment to peace regarding the Ukraine situation, balancing relationships with the US and Russia.
• US President Trump's 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods due to oil purchases from Russia create a complex diplomatic environment.
• Putin promises "uninterrupted shipments" of fuel to support India's fast-growing economy amid ongoing sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for a two-day state visit, his first since the onset of the Ukraine war, aimed at deepening bilateral relations between Russia and India. This visit takes place amidst significant pressure from the US for India to halt its purchases of Russian oil, which have surged in recent years as India has become a primary buyer of seaborne Russian crude. Modi welcomed Putin with a hug on the tarmac, signalling the strong personal rapport between the leaders, as they aim to bolster trade and defense ties while navigating complex geopolitical waters, according to Channel News Asia, Dawn, and AA.

During their summit talks, both leaders had a constructive dialogue about the state of their strategic partnership, where they emphasized the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. This initiative comes as trade has significantly increased from about $13 billion in 2021 to nearly $69 billion in 2024-25, primarily fueled by energy imports. Modi stressed the importance of diversifying India's exports to Russia, encompassing pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and agricultural products, in efforts to address an existing trade imbalance, as suggested by Dawn, AA, and Channel News Asia.

Putin also defended the ongoing energy relationship, stating that "Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, and coal," indicating that Russian energy supplies would support India's economic growth despite external pressures. He questioned the validity of US sanctions, pointing out the hypocrisy of the US consuming Russian nuclear fuel while demanding other nations refrain from trading with Moscow. This sentiment underscores the complexity of India's diplomatic balancing act as it navigates relations with both the US and Russia, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn.

Overall, the high-level summit reflected the deep historical ties between India and Russia, with Putin and Modi set to announce various agreements across sectors, including defense cooperation and labor initiatives. Modi reiterated India's commitment to a "peaceful resolution" in Ukraine, portraying India as a proactive advocate for peace in a globally tumultuous environment, as noted by AA, Dawn, and Al Jazeera.

As this visit unfolds, both leaders emphasize the importance of strategic economic cooperation while asserting their nations' rights to navigate challenging international pressures and maintain their established partnerships, according to Channel News Asia, Dawn, and Al Jazeera.