CaliToday (30/8/2025): Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India in December, a top Kremlin aide announced on Friday, signaling a deepening of ties between the two nations amid a shifting global geopolitical landscape.
The upcoming high-level visit will be on the agenda when Putin meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in China on Monday. Putin's foreign affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters that the two leaders will hold talks on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The SCO, a security-focused bloc co-founded by Russia and China in 2001, primarily addresses security issues in Central Asia and the broader region.
The meeting is part of a packed diplomatic schedule for the Russian leader, who is in China for a four-day visit from August 31 to September 3. While in Beijing, Putin is set to hold extensive talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and attend a large-scale military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
A Flurry of Diplomatic Engagements
Beyond his meeting with Modi, Putin is expected to hold several other bilateral discussions on Monday. Confirmed meetings include talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Ushakov also revealed that Russian officials are "working on the possibility of a bilateral meeting" between Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is also expected to attend the parade in Beijing.
While the upcoming discussion will be the first in-person meeting between Putin and Modi this year, Ushakov noted that the two leaders have "maintained contact by phone multiple times."
A Partnership Navigating Complex Times
The relationship between Russia and India has deep roots dating back to the Cold War, but New Delhi's importance as a key trade partner for Moscow has surged since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last year, Modi traveled to Russia twice: first to Moscow in July for direct talks with Putin—his first trip to the country since the war began—and again to Kazan in October for the BRICS summit of developing economies.
Prime Minister Modi has navigated a diplomatic tightrope, avoiding direct condemnation of Russia's actions while consistently calling for a peaceful resolution. However, the partnership is complicated by Russia's growing alignment with China, a regional rival to India, as Moscow seeks allies amid its international isolation over the Ukraine conflict.
Economically, the relationship has become vital for the Kremlin. Both India and China have become the primary buyers of Russian oil after sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies cut off Moscow's access to most Western markets. Putin's planned trip to New Delhi in December underscores the strategic importance of this partnership, built on historical ties and modern economic necessities.
