Putin and Modi focus on commerce, peace in New Delhi summit

[ad_1] Putin visiting Delhi for first time in 4 years Modi and Putin to debate defence, oil, and nuclear power Each international locations need to broaden commerce basket Raft of agreements and offers to be introduced NEW DELHI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started summit talks in New Delhi on Friday, as New Delhi rolled out the crimson carpet for the Russian chief and Modi advised him India supported peace efforts in Ukraine.

Putin is on his first go to to India in 4 years, aiming to spice up commerce with the highest purchaser of Russia's arms and seaborne oil as Western sanctions squeeze their decades-old ties . Enroll <a data-testid="Link" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russias-putin-hold-summit-talks-with-indias-modi-delhi-2025-12-05/undefined?location=article-paragraph&redirectUrl=%2Fbusiness%2Faerospace-defense%2Frussias-putin-hold-summit-talks-with-indias-modi-delhi-2025-12-05%2F" class="text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC">here.

The go to comes at a time when New Delhi is engaged in talks with the U.S. for a commerce deal to cut punitive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on its items over India's Russian oil purchases. Moscow has been India's prime arms provider for many years and has mentioned that it needs to import extra Indian items in an effort to develop commerce to $100 billion by 2030 that up to now has been skewed in its favour attributable to New Delhi's power imports. Since European international locations lower their reliance on Russian power after Russia invaded Ukraine almost 4 years in the past, India ramped up its purchases of discounted Russian crude, only to reduce them below strain from U.S. tariffs and sanctions this 12 months. EFFORTS TO END UKRAINE CONFLICT “India shouldn't be impartial — India has a place, and that place is for peace," Modi advised Putin as they opened their talks. "We help each effort for peace, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with each initiative taken for peace.”

Putin, in response, thanked Modi for his consideration and efforts aimed toward resolving the battle.

"We had the chance - and also you gave me that chance - to talk intimately about what is going on on the Ukrainian observe and concerning the steps we're taking collectively with another companions, together with the US, towards a attainable peaceable settlement of this disaster," Putin mentioned.

"As our international locations and economies develop, the alternatives for cooperation broaden," Putin mentioned. "New areas are rising - excessive applied sciences, joint work in aviation, house, and synthetic intelligence. We've a really trusting relationship within the discipline of military-technical cooperation, and we intend to maneuver ahead in all these areas."

21-GUN SALUTE WELCOME Putin landed in Delhi on Thursday to a heat welcome from Modi, who greeted him with an embrace on the tarmac of the airport. The 2 males then travelled collectively in the identical car for a non-public dinner hosted by Modi.

On Friday, Putin was given a ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the colonial-era presidential palace, with a 21-gun salute as his convoy drove in.

The 2 sides are anticipated to announce a raft of offers on the finish of formal talks.

Indian corporations are anticipated to signal an settlement with Uralchem group, Russia's prime potash and ammonium nitrate producer, to collectively arrange a urea plant in Russia , Reuters reported on Thursday. Russian lenders Gazprombank (GZPRI.MM) and Alfa Financial institution have additionally sought approval to begin operating in India to assist Moscow increase its commerce with India, Reuters reported. PUTIN CHALLENGES WASHINGTON Modi and Putin are additionally anticipated to debate matters together with labour and civil nuclear power.

A big business and government delegation has accompanied Putin for the go to, together with Defence Minister Andrei Belousov who held talks together with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on Thursday. Belousov acknowledged that "the Russian defence business is able to help India in the direction of changing into self-reliant within the discipline of defence manufacturing," India's defence ministry mentioned after the talks.

In an interview with broadcaster India Right now that was aired late on Thursday, Putin challenged U.S. pressure on India to not purchase Russian gas when the U.S. might buy Russian nuclear gas. "If the U.S. has the suitable to purchase our gas, why should not India have the identical privilege? This query deserves thorough examination, and we stand prepared to debate it, together with with President Trump," Putin mentioned.

He additionally mentioned that whereas there was a minor dip in India-Russia commerce throughout the first 9 months of this 12 months, power commerce was "working easily".

India has mentioned Trump's tariffs are unjustified and unreasonable and pointed at ongoing U.S. trade with Moscow . The U.S. and European Union proceed to import billions of {dollars} value of Russian power and commodities, starting from liquefied pure fuel to enriched uranium. 'INDIA'S CONUNDRUM' Putin arrived in India a day after holding talks with Trump's prime envoys on a attainable peace deal to finish the battle in Ukraine, however they did not reach a compromise . India has resisted condemning Russia over the battle and known as for peace by way of dialogue and diplomacy, whereas saying that its ties with Moscow had been being unfairly targeted by Western nations that it mentioned continued to do enterprise with Moscow when it was of their curiosity. "India faces a conundrum; by taking steps to strengthen ties with Moscow or Washington, New Delhi dangers setting again ties with the opposite," Michael Kugelman, senior fellow at Washington's Atlantic Council assume tank, wrote in International Coverage journal this week.