New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, receiving a ceremonial red-carpet welcome highlighted by a warm bear hug from the Indian leader. The gesture, followed by an invitation to ride together in Modi’s specially outfitted Toyota Fortuner instead of Putin’s usual armoured limousine, underscored the personal rapport between the two leaders.
On Friday morning, the two leaders met at Hyderabad House, where Putin stated that Russia is actively working towards a “peaceful settlement” in Ukraine the conflict that began in February 2022 and shared details of Moscow’s proposals with India. He framed the effort as an attempt to bring about an end to hostilities and sought Delhi’s engagement in understanding the Russian perspective.
Prime Minister Modi, in response, reaffirmed India’s long-standing stance as a champion of peace. “We support a peaceful solution,” he said, emphasizing that Delhi advocates dialogue and diplomacy over military escalation. Modi reiterated that “this is not an era of war,” signaling India’s consistent position on the conflict since its inception.
Observers note that the visit has attracted close attention from Western capitals, especially after a joint opinion piece by German, British, and French envoys criticized India’s stance a move that reportedly caused friction in Delhi. The visit assumes greater significance given the recent cooling of India-US ties, which stemmed from trade tariffs imposed under former President Donald Trump and disagreements over energy and defense cooperation.
Putin highlighted the complex global energy market in a pointed remark, noting that while the US imposes tariffs on India, it still imports nuclear fuel from Russia. “If they have the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India?” he asked, signaling Moscow’s frustration with perceived double standards. India’s continued purchase of Russian crude, even in the face of sanctions, has similarly complicated its relationship with Washington. Despite these tensions, crude imports from Russia are expected to reach a three-year low this month due to external pressures, including US tariffs.
The visit is expected to focus on strengthening India-Russia defense cooperation, insulating bilateral trade from international pressures, and exploring collaboration in small modular reactors (SMRs) for energy security. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has consistently maintained that the West should move beyond the mindset that “Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems,” defending India’s independent foreign policy approach.
Putin’s two-day visit, marked by both diplomatic engagement and high-profile symbolism, underscores the enduring India-Russia partnership even as global geopolitics shift. With discussions on Ukraine, defense, energy, and trade expected to dominate the agenda, the visit signals New Delhi’s efforts to balance strategic autonomy while advocating for peace and dialogue on the international stage.