Putin visits India for defense, trade talks

President Vladimir Putin is set to begin a two-day visit to India on Thursday, seeking to deepen defense ties even as New Delhi faces growing US pressure to stop buying Russian oil.

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The Russian leader, making his first trip to India since the start of the Ukraine war, will be accompanied by a delegation that includes his Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, with media reports saying a fighter jet deal may be on the table.

Putin is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday for a private dinner, followed by a summit meeting and a business gathering the next day.

Beyond defense, trade relations are expected to be on the agenda as Delhi treads a tightrope, relying on strategic Russian imports while seeking to avoid angering US President Donald Trump amid ongoing tariff negotiations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the supply of Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense systems had an “important place on the agenda”.

India currently has three S-400 units, with delivery of two more pending under a 2018 deal stalled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ensuing Western sanctions.

Media reports in India suggested Moscow may also offer co-production of Russia’s Su-57 fighter jets.

India is one of the world’s top arms importers, with Russia being one of its main suppliers historically, but Delhi in recent years has sought to boost domestic production.