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Russian President is starting a short state visit to India, where he is set to meet PM Narendra Modi and take part in an regular summit held by the two states.

Delhi and Russia are expected to sign a series of accords during the meeting, which takes place following the United States increased diplomatic pressure on India to halt buying Russian energy.

It also coincides with the Donald Trump's administration holding a round of talks with Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to conclude the hostilities.

India and Russia have been strategic friends for decades, and Putin and Modi have a productive relationship. Here is a examination at why they both depend on each other – and what to watch for as they hold talks.

A Unique Bond, Economic Agreements and International Dynamics

Why are relations with India crucial for the Russian leadership?

To begin with, consider the figures:

• A demographic of nearly a 1.5 billion.
• Economic growth above 8%. India is the world's most rapidly expanding major economy.

That makes it a extremely lucrative market for Russian products and resources – notably oil.

India is the world's number three user of petroleum and has been acquiring significant quantities from Russia. That was not historically the case. In the era preceding the Kremlin's comprehensive offensive of Ukraine, only 2.5% of India's oil imports were from Russia.

That figure jumped to 35% as India capitalized on Russian cheaper rates caused by restrictions against Moscow and Russia's limited access to the EU market.

India was happy. Washington less so.

In October, the Trump administration slapped an additional 25% duty on Indian products, stating that by buying oil from Russia, India was contributing to fund the Kremlin's coffers. Purchases from India for Russian oil have subsequently declined. President Putin will be eager for India to keep buying.

For Moscow, arms sales to India are another priority and have been since the USSR era. Prior to Putin's visit, there were reports that India plans to acquire state-of-the-art Russian warplanes and air defence systems.

Russia, experiencing a skilled worker shortage, also views India as a important provider of skilled workers.

But there's geopolitics in the mix, too.

The Kremlin relishes showing that Western attempts to isolate it over the war in Ukraine have failed.

Visiting India and meeting Prime Minister Modi is a means of making that point.

So is going to China and holding talks with Xi Jinping, as Putin did a quarter ago. He saw Modi on the that trip. The photograph of the three leaders smiling and chatting with each other sent a clear statement that, notwithstanding the war in Ukraine, Moscow has major friends who champion the concept of a "global order not dominated by the West".

Russia champions its "boundless partnership" with China.

It is just as vocal about its "strategic and favored strategic partnership" with India.

That is a clear opposite to Moscow's strained ties with the Europe.

"I think the Kremlin is sure that the West, even Europe, totally failed," argues expert Andrei Kolesnikov.

"We are not isolated, because we have connections to Asia and the non-Western nations. Economically, this is the coming era. In that sense Russia has re-emerged as the principal force in these parts of the globe, like the Soviet Union."

This week, though, expect to hear about Russia-India friendship, economic agreements and greater commercial collaboration between Moscow and Delhi.

Challenge of Modi's Independent Foreign Policy

Putin's visit to Delhi is coming at a pivotal time for Modi and India's global aspirations.

India-Russia ties go back to the Soviet era and have survived irrespective of the evolving global political landscape.

Putin has likely put more time and energy into this bond than other Russian leaders in the past.

As for Modi, notwithstanding coming under intense pressure from US and European governments to condemn Russia over its war in Ukraine, he maintained that dialogue was the only way to settle the war.

This was India's "independent policy" at play – with Modi holding a specific place in the geopolitical order where he held close ties with Moscow while keeping his links with the West at the same time.

That functioned – until Trump was re-elected to the White House. India-US ties have reached an nadir in recent months as the two countries have not managed to settle the tariff impasse.

In this situation, Putin's visit carries increased weight for Modi than previously because it will challenge India's strategic independence. He will be walking the metaphorical fine line here.

Modi would seek to prove the Indian public at home and in the wider world that he yet counts Putin as his ally and hasn't given into influence from Trump, whom he has in the past called his "good friend".

But he has also encountered calls from his allies in Europe – only this week, the German, French and UK ambassadors in India wrote a rare co-authored column in a major newspaper questioning Russia's position on Ukraine.

And so, Modi will have to ensure that the deepening of India-Russia ties does not overshadow continuing negotiations with the US and his relationship with Europe.

"For India, the challenge is walking a fine line – protecting independence while navigating pressure from Washington and interdependence on Moscow," noted a Delhi-based think-tank.

Modi's other priority will be to tap into the potential of two-way commerce between India and Russia.

Observers have often said that the commercial ties between the two strong allies has not lived up to expectations for decades.

Their total trade increased to $68.72bn at the end of March 2025, rising from {just