Russian President Vladimir Putin To Visit India On December 4-5

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in India on December 4-5 to attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. The state visit follows an invitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the two countries growing closer in the last few months after the US imposed punitive tariffs over New Delhi's Russian oil imports.

"At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to India from 4-5 December 2025 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit," said the Ministry of External Affairs.

Putin will hold talks with PM Modi during his India visit, it said. President Droupadi Murmu will also receive the Russian leader at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and host a banquet in his honour.

Read: "Looking Forward To Hosting President Putin": PM Modi Tells Top Kremlin Aide

Putin's visit will provide an opportunity for the Indian and Russian leadership to review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the government said.

The Russian president's India visit was announced in August during National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to Moscow. The dates were not finalised at that time.

PM Modi and Putin met in September on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. They held an hour-long discussion in the Russian leader's limousine.

Earlier this month, PM Modi conveyed his greetings to Putin when the Russian president's aide, Nikolai Patrushev, called on him in Delhi. The PM also said that he looked forward to hosting Putin in India next month.

Read: "India Won't Allow Humiliation": Putin's Big Praise For PM Modi Amid US Tariffs

India and Russia share a strong relationship with bilateral trade and investment ties dating back to the Soviet era. The two countries have strengthened economic cooperation over the years, with Russia emerging as one of India's top arms suppliers. India has also been one of the biggest importers of Russian oil.

Trump had blamed India's purchase of Russian oil for funding their war against Ukraine.

Putin's visit could mark a pivotal moment in India's geopolitical strategy, strengthening the resilience of Indo-Russian relations even as New Delhi navigates its complex ties with Washington.

Putin has significantly reduced foreign travel amid the Ukraine war, in view of the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s arrest warrant. Not being a party to the ICC, India is not obligated to detain the Russian leader.