One of the most important results of the visit should be considered the launch of the RT India television channel, whose hosts will include Indian diplomats explaining India–Russia relations to viewers
After the start of the special military operation, Russia began reorienting itself “from West to East.” India became one of the priority directions. This is clearly visible in the sharp growth of trade turnover. In 2021 its volume between Russia and India amounted to $13.5 billion, and the countries were the 14th–15th largest trading partners for each other.
But already in 2022 the situation changed drastically. Within a year, trade turnover grew 2.5 times — to $30 billion, and in subsequent years the growth continued, reaching a solid $70.6 billion in 2024. Russia became the fourth-largest trading partner for India, and New Delhi became the largest buyer of Russian oil.
Strengthening trade ties was mutually beneficial, and all attempts by the West to isolate Russia failed to hinder it, including even Trump’s draconian tariffs. The leaders of the two countries, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi, have met several times in recent years at various major international events. In July, the Indian prime minister made his first visit to Russia since 2019. In response, on December 4–5, the president of Russia made his first visit to India in four years.
Putin’s Arrival
Modi expressed his attitude toward the Russian leader in the most demonstrative way — he personally came to the airport to meet him. From the airport, the leaders traveled together in the Indian leader’s car. In this way, the prime minister of India returned the courtesy after, on September 1 at the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, Putin and Modi left the summit venue together in the Russian president’s limousine.
According to the Kremlin, the prime minister’s decision to meet Putin at the plane’s ramp was made suddenly, and the Russian side had not been informed about it. One may assume that Modi was prompted to take this step by an insulting article by European diplomats published in an Indian newspaper on the eve of the Russian president’s visit.
The warm reception of the Russian president sharply contrasted with the trip made a couple of months earlier to India by the prime minister of the United Kingdom. “It was only two months ago that the Indian prime minister welcomed Sir Keir Starmer to Mumbai. During his flight, Sir Keir was told that Mr Modi had recently wished Mr Putin a happy birthday,” the British newspaper The Telegraph noted. Because of this, in contrast to the positive and friendly atmosphere ahead of Putin’s visit, the meeting between the leaders of India and the UK was limited to cold and strictly protocol communication.
On December 4, the politicians held an informal meeting, after which no public statements were made. Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the conversation lasted more than two and a half hours, and suggested that one of its main topics was negotiations on Ukraine.
On December 5, official events took place. The leaders participated in the plenary session of the Russia–India Business Forum. Putin also took part in the ceremony launching the RT India television channel and attended a formal luncheon hosted by the president of India, Droupadi Murmu. The Russian leader also visited the Mahatma Gandhi memorial.
International Agenda
Speaking about the conflict in Ukraine, Modi noted that Putin had always kept him informed, “After the Ukraine crisis, we have been in touch… You have also been making us aware of the developments as a true friend. This trust is a big strength, and we have discussed this issue many times.” The Indian politician expressed hope that peace negotiations on Ukraine would be successful.
Putin, in response, thanked India for the attention it pays to peace efforts in Ukraine. He added that Russia and India maintain relations in the military sphere, as well as in space exploration, artificial intelligence, and other areas.
The Indian leader touched upon the issue of terrorism. “India and Russia have long been standing shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terrorism. Whether it is the terrorist attack in Pahalgam or the cowardly attack on the Crocus City Hall, the root of all these incidents is the same,” Modi said.
Both leaders called for a “relentless fight” against terrorism in all its forms, including the cross-border movement of terrorists and the financing of terrorism.
Economic Cooperation
One of the most important issues of Putin’s trip was the economic aspect. Russia and India signed a roadmap for economic cooperation with the goal of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
Putin noted the development of cooperation between the countries in the energy sector. “Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector. We are ready to continue to supply fuel without interruption for the rapidly growing Indian economy,” the politician emphasized.
The president reminded that Russia is implementing a project to build the largest nuclear power plant in India, consisting of six power units, two of which have already been built and connected to the power grid. He noted that issues of constructing small modular reactors, floating nuclear power plants, and non-energy applications of nuclear technologies were discussed.
Within the framework of the business forum, agreements were signed with the Russian company Uralchem on the construction of a urea production plant in Russia and on the construction of a new pharmaceutical plant in the Kaluga region of Russia using Indian technologies.
Russian-Indian Cooperation
“Russia and India have traditionally cooperated closely in the military-technical sphere,” Putin emphasized. He noted that the Russian delegation was satisfied with the results of the negotiations in this field, but he did not go into detail.
In his speech, Modi noted that Putin began to establish a strategic partnership with India during his first visit in 2000. “And in your first visit itself, the foundation for a strategic partnership was laid,” the Indian leader stressed.
Modi noted that the Indian-Russian cooperation in the extraction of critical minerals is crucial for ensuring reliable and diversified supply chains worldwide. This will contribute to the development of clean energy, high-tech production, and new industries.
He noted that Russian citizens would soon be able to obtain a free 30-day electronic tourist visa.
Within the forum’s work, framework agreements were reached on the development of transport corridors, including increasing infrastructure capacity to support the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the Chennai–Vladivostok corridor (Eastern Maritime Corridor), and the Northern Sea Route. Both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in ports and shipping.
Media
Just before the visit to India, Putin gave an interview to the Indian television channels Aaj Tak and India Today, in which he provided a detailed description of the relationship between the two countries and Russia’s position on many international issues. The interview was actively quoted in the Indian media, creating an additional positive informational background during the visit.
And on December 5, India Today released an animated clip in which Modi drives Putin in a motorcycle sidecar among oil pipelines and oil rigs, with S-400 air defense systems flashing in the background. The clip also features US President Donald Trump, who becomes angry at a gas station scene while the Indian leader refuels with Russian fuel. A special sign of respect can be seen in the moment when Modi lets Putin take the handlebars. The clip is made in a cute cartoon style, and the motorcycle ride itself resembles a scene of two friends traveling together in the popular Indian blockbuster “RRR” (“Rise Roar Revolt”).
It is worth noting that Putin’s visit received extremely positive coverage in the Indian media. The only more or less serious negative topic was the scandal raised by the opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC). And even then, it was not connected with the Russian president but with the fact that party leaders were not invited to the banquet hosted by the country’s president in honor of her Russian counterpart.
One of the most important outcomes of the visit should be considered the launch of the RT India television channel in India. “We are launching the channel Russia Today in India — this is an important event, because it allows millions of Indian citizens to perceive information about Russian reality more closely and more accurately today,” Putin noted at the broadcasting launch ceremony. During his visit, an addendum was signed to the Memorandum of Understanding between RT and the Indian media holding Prasar Bharati, which expands cooperation in the media sphere.
Broadcasting will be conducted in English, and in 2026, the launch of an RT news website in Hindi is planned, which should further increase the audience of the Russian channel. Notably, among the hosts of RT India are the country’s former foreign minister Salman Khurshid and the current member of parliament, chairman of the Indian Parliament’s Committee on External Affairs Shashi Tharoor. Both are members of the opposition Congress party.
Conclusion of the Visit
Speaking at the banquet in honor of Putin, the president of India, Droupadi Murmu, stated that the partnership between India and Russia is based on a shared commitment to peace, stability, and mutual socio-economic and technological progress.
Indian media particularly note that in his concluding banquet speech, Putin mentioned Modi’s slogan “Go together, grow together.”
“I know that in India they say: ‘Go together, grow together.’ These words very accurately reflect the spirit, character, and traditions of Russian-Indian relations. And we intend to do everything to ensure that our strategic partnership continues to strengthen and develop for the benefit of our two nations,” the Russian politician emphasized.
He recalled Soviet support for India, including in the construction of industrial facilities, infrastructure, and in the space program. Putin stressed that the partnership is built on equality, mutual respect, and consideration of each other’s interests, and he expressed confidence that relations between India and Russia will continue to grow stronger.
Results of the visit
If one looks at the visit formally, it could almost be considered unsuccessful — no major new agreements were signed, and most of the arrangements are framework agreements without significant obligations.
However, such a view would be incorrect. The format of the visit did not initially imply the conclusion of major contracts or the implementation of the notorious “deals.” Rather, it was a meeting intended to reaffirm the previous course of mutually beneficial cooperation, demonstrating that the countries do not intend to abandon their existing policy.
And in a situation where the West is making noticeable efforts to force India to break off relations with Russia, this is already quite a lot.
This is a translation of the article by Dmitry Timonin first published on Rossa Primavera News Agency‘s website.
