From nuclear push to free trade talks: Key takeaways from Putin’s two-day India visit

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his two-day India visit on Friday evening after attending a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This was his first trip to India in four years, during which he held extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on nuclear energy, defence manufacturing, trade expansion and regional security. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said both leaders also reviewed progress on the proposed free trade agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union.

One of the biggest takeaways of the visit was a renewed push for nuclear cooperation. According to Bloomberg, India and Russia discussed building a second nuclear power plant using Russian-designed reactors, with New Delhi committing to identify a site for the project. Defence collaboration also featured prominently, with Reuters reporting that Russia proposed localising production of the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet in India.

Putin praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and India’s rising technological capabilities, saying the country is becoming increasingly self-reliant and posting impressive economic growth. Earlier in the day, the two leaders addressed the India–Russia Business Forum, where PM Modi highlighted the potential for joint ventures in electric vehicle manufacturing and confirmed that discussions on an India–EAEU free trade agreement have begun.

Energy security remained central to the dialogue. Putin assured India of uninterrupted supplies of oil, gas and coal, emphasising Russia’s role as a dependable energy partner. His remarks come at a time when Western countries, especially the US, continue to pressure India to scale back energy ties with Moscow.

A major announcement from the bilateral talks was the finalisation of an economic cooperation roadmap that aims to boost annual India–Russia trade to USD 100 billion by 2030. Both sides stressed the importance of collaboration in critical minerals to ensure stable global supply chains.

PM Modi, speaking at the joint press conference, spoke of India and Russia’s shared stance against terrorism, citing attacks in Pahalgam and Moscow’s Crocus City Hall as examples of a common threat. He said global unity remains essential to counter the menace.

In a step aimed at boosting tourism, PM Modi also announced that India will soon introduce free electronic visas for Russian tourists and tour groups. During the visit, Putin received a range of traditional Indian gifts from Modi, including Kashmiri saffron, Assam tea, a silver tea set, a silver horse, a marble chessboard, and a Russian-language edition of the Bhagavad Gita.