Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened high-level summit talks in New Delhi on Friday, Dec. 5, as India staged an elaborate welcome for the Russian leader during his first visit to the country in four years, as reported by Reuters.

Putin’s trip comes as Moscow seeks to deepen commercial ties with one of its key defense and energy partners at a time when Western sanctions continue to constrict Russia’s economy.

India, meanwhile, is balancing its long-standing relationship with Moscow against active negotiations with Washington over a trade agreement intended to ease punitive tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, particularly those linked to India’s heavy purchases of Russian oil.

For decades, Russia has been India’s principal arms supplier, and Moscow has recently expressed interest in increasing imports of Indian goods as both sides pursue an ambition to lift bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Current flows remain heavily tilted toward Russia because of India’s extensive energy imports.

India sharply increased its intake of discounted Russian crude after European nations cut their dependence on Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. Those purchases have since been scaled back amid renewed U.S. pressure and sanctions.

At the start of the summit, Modi emphasized that India maintains a clear position favoring diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. Putin, in turn, acknowledged India’s engagement in discussions aimed at exploring paths toward a possible settlement and noted ongoing coordination with other international partners.

The Russian leader also highlighted expanding opportunities in the bilateral relationship, citing growing collaboration in sectors such as high technology, aviation, space and artificial intelligence. Putin underscored the depth of military-technical cooperation between the two countries and signaled Moscow’s intention to advance joint initiatives across multiple strategic domains.