India, Russia eye trade boost

Peskov said addressing India’s concerns over a massive trade deficit, cooperation on small modular nuclear reactors, and the expansion of defence and energy ties could all feature prominently in Friday’s summit talks.

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He said Russia has “deep experience in performing under the regime of these illegal sanctions” on its oil and is exploring ways to keep oil flows to India steady.

Putin will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit — his first visit to India since 2021, and the first since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out. The trip has been designated a rare “state visit”; most previous summit trips, dating back to 2000, have been “working” or “official” visits. The timing is also notable as India confronts 50 percent US tariffs, including a 25 per cent punitive levy for New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude oil. MEA officials said the delegations led by Putin and Modi will take up bilateral defence ties and cooperation in the civil nuclear sector, though no major defence agreements are expected to be announced.