New delhi, Dec 5 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a tightly choreographed press appearance in New Delhi, presenting a united front on economic cooperation, energy security, and geopolitical alignment at a time of heightened global tension.
Although the leaders took no questions, their statements outlined an ambitious roadmap for deeper strategic engagement between Moscow and New Delhi.
The two sides unveiled a broad set of memorandums of understanding spanning trade, agriculture, and connectivity, documents that, while non-binding, signal momentum toward more substantive agreements in the months ahead.
Putin who drove down to Hyderabad House, a palace built by an Indian prince, for the Summit meeting, described the package as “impressive,” saying it reflected the “constructive” and “friendly” tenor of his meeting with Modi.
The Russian leader emphasised the pair’s “close working dialogue,” referencing regular phone conversations and years of partnership.
“We established a close working dialogue in September when we (Putin and Modi) were at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin. We are personally overseeing key strategic developments and monitoring major bilateral projects,” Putin said.
A central focus of the remarks was the accelerating economic relationship between the two countries. Putin pledged that Russia would continue “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India, even as Delhi faces persistent pressure from Washington to scale down its purchases of Russian oil.
President Putin said that Russia is witnessing a successful partnership in the energy sector with India and pledged to continue being a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and other resources essential for India’s energy development.
“We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel to support India’s fast-growing economy,” he said. India had increased its offtake of Russian of crude earlier this year, which saw the United States slapping punitive duties on Indian exports, while accusing India of undermining efforts to get Russia to talk peace with Ukraine.
Putin’s visit comes as the United States, under the Trump administration, pursues negotiations with both Russia and Ukraine. Moscow has said it is awaiting Washington’s response to a proposal discussed earlier this week in meetings between Putin, United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Senior Advisor to the US President, Jared Kushner.
The Russian President also welcomed the increasing use of national currencies in bilateral trade and pointed out that 96 per cent of commercial transactions are already conducted in Russian Roubles and Indian Rupees.
He also highlighted Russia’s role in partnering India in expanding it’s existing largest nuclear power plant at Kudankualm, calling the facility a “flagship project” of the partnership.
“According to various estimates, the trade turnover is around $64 billion. We are confident that with coordinated efforts, we can reach USD100 billion,” he said during a joint press statement with Prime Minister Modi, noting that bilateral trade turnover has grown by 12 per cent, setting a new record. Putin said Russia and India are also developing new international transport routes, including the North-South corridor from Russia and Belarus to the Indian Ocean, and expanding trans-Arctic corridors, such as the Northern Sea Route, creating significant opportunities for trade.
He highlighted joint initiatives in industry, machinery, digital technology, space exploration, and science-intensive sectors, including the construction of a large Russian-Indian pharmaceutical factory in Kaluga to produce anti-tumor drugs using advanced Indian technology. Conversely, Russian enterprises will contribute to India’s Make in India program by producing industrial products locally.
Modi, for his part, placed India–Russia cooperation in a broader context of national development priorities, highlighting energy security as a “strong and important pillar” of their relationship.
He announced that India would open new consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg and introduce two 30-day tourist visa schemes for Russian visitors, moves aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties.
The Ukraine conflict featured prominently in Modi’s remarks. The prime minister said India had “stood for peace since the beginning” and welcomed ongoing efforts to secure a “peaceful and lasting solution” to the war.
He reiterated India’s willingness to “contribute in the future,” while also underscoring the shared history of cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi in combating terrorism, referencing the 2024 Crocus City Hall attack.
In a notable media development, Putin confirmed that the Russian state network Russia Today (RT) would launch operations in India, arguing it would provide “objective information” about Russia to Indian audiences.
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