India-Russia Talks Begin Today With Emphasis on Defence and Trade
Leaders confront US tariffs, trade imbalance, and Ukraine crisis head-on.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will convene the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit on Friday at Hyderabad House, marking Putin’s first state visit to India in four years and only the second bilateral summit outside Moscow since the Ukraine war began. The high-stakes talks are designed to reinforce the time-tested strategic partnership while navigating unprecedented external pressures from Western sanctions and punitive US tariffs imposed on Indian exports over continued Russian oil purchases.
The summit follows an extraordinary personal gesture on Thursday evening when PM Modi broke protocol to receive Putin at Delhi’s Palam technical airport, followed by a warm embrace and a shared ride in the Prime Minister’s official vehicle to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner. The rare welcome underscored New Delhi’s determination to preserve and expand ties with Moscow despite intense geopolitical headwinds.
Core discussions will revolve around deepening defence industrial cooperation, including joint manufacturing of advanced platforms, accelerating energy trade amid fresh US sanctions on Russian oil entities, and exploring collaboration on small modular nuclear reactors. India is expected to firmly raise the widening trade deficit—driven almost entirely by discounted crude imports—and seek additional price concessions and long-term supply assurances from Russia.
The impact of recent 50 per cent US tariffs on certain Indian goods, directly linked to New Delhi’s refusal to halt Russian oil purchases, will dominate economic talks. Putin is also likely to update Modi on Washington’s latest diplomatic proposals regarding Ukraine, with India maintaining its consistent position that a resolution can only emerge through sustained dialogue rather than battlefield escalation.
The packed Friday itinerary includes a full ceremonial welcome with tri-services guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, restricted and delegation-level talks, signing of multiple bilateral agreements, a joint media address, and a high-profile India-Russia CEO interaction co-hosted by FICCI and Roscongress at Bharat Mandapam, culminating in a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu before Putin departs around 9 pm.
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