New Delhi / Moscow — The global geopolitical spotlight is on New Delhi and Moscow, as Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India on 4–5 December 2025. The agenda is heavy: beyond defence cooperation, energy supply and the ongoing Ukraine conflict will figure prominently — raising major questions for India’s foreign-policy balancing act.
📌 Key items on the table
- Defence cooperation — S-400 missiles, strategic deals: India is reportedly looking to procure additional batches of the advanced S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia. According to the report, these systems proved effective during India’s recent military operations, and fresh acquisitions are being discussed.
- Russian oil imports & energy security: Amid Western sanctions and global energy turbulence, Russian crude remains a key resource for India. As importers rush to secure supplies before sanctions hit hard, New Delhi may seek assurances from Moscow about steady oil deliveries — a critical priority ahead of global winter demand.
- Geopolitics of the Ukraine war: With Russia still at war in Ukraine, and global oil-market instability feeding international concern, the visit is expected to involve frank discussions about the conflict, its consequences on energy, and how India navigates pressures from the West and global South.
🌐 What this means for India
For India, the visit comes at a delicate moment. On one hand, continuing defence and energy cooperation with Russia helps safeguard strategic autonomy and energy security, crucial for sustaining India’s burgeoning economy. On the other, deepening ties with Moscow risks friction with Western powers — especially given the sanctions regime targeting Russian oil and weaponry buyers.
Analysts believe that the two-day summit may yield new deals — particularly on defence purchases and long-term oil-supply contracts — together with diplomatic assurances that Russia will continue to respect India’s stand for non-alignment in the Ukraine war discourse.
🧭 What to watch after the visit
- Agreements signed — whether India commits to new defence hardware orders or multi-year oil import deals under Russia’s discounted rates.
- India’s diplomatic messaging — how New Delhi frames its engagement with Russia in light of global pressure to isolate Moscow over Ukraine.
- Impact on oil prices & supply chain — whether renewed Russian-Indian energy ties influence global crude dynamics, especially if sanctions on Russian exports persist.
- Regional security implications — given rising tensions tied to the Ukraine war, how India balances its relations with Russia vis-à-vis Western alliances.
In sum, Putin’s visit may well steer the next phase of India–Russia relations — with long-term consequences for defence posture, energy security, and India’s place in a rapidly shifting global order.
