Modi, Putin reignite ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin wrapped up a full day of engagements in New Delhi with a State banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhawan— the same venue where he began his morning with a ceremonial Guard of Honour. The high-profile visit, one of Putin’s most prominent diplomatic outings since Russia’s isolation following the 2022 Ukraine war, drew global attention as India extended an elaborate welcome.

Throughout the day, Putin held extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attended a business forum and announced the launch of Russia Today in India, the Kremlin-funded and controlled broadcast network. The red-carpet treatment was widely seen as New Delhi signalling its independent foreign-policy stance to western Governments.

During the bilateral discussions, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to supply India with an “uninterrupted” flow of fuel, emphasising that Moscow’s energy commitments to India remain “unaffected” by global political dynamics. Putin highlighted that despite sanctions, both the US and the European Union continue importing billions of dollars’ worth of Russian energy, including liquefied natural gas and enriched uranium — a point he used to underscore what he called Western “double standards.”

Reiterating Moscow’s stance, Putin stressed that Russia’s energy cooperation with India had not been disrupted by geopolitical tensions or the war in Ukraine. “Our energy cooperation with India remains unaffected by present political shifts,” he said, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. He added that “trade in petroleum products and the refining of Russian oil for Indian consumers proceeds in a completely stable and predictable manner.”

At the conclusion of the two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi described India-Russia relations as a “friendship” grounded in “mutual respect and deep trust,” noting that the partnership had “stood the test of time” through multiple global crises. He compared the relationship to the “pole star,” symbolising its enduring stability.

Both leaders unveiled a range of initiatives to deepen economic ties beyond traditional oil and defence cooperation. A joint statement issued by both Governments stressed that “in the current complex, tense, and uncertain geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties remain resilient to external pressure.” Putin’s visit — defined by symbolic gestures, strategic messaging, and significant economic announcements — reinforced the strength of the India-Russia partnership at a time of shifting global alignments.