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Vladimir Putin is embarking on a short state visit to India, where he is expected to meet the Indian leader Narendra Modi and participate in an regular high-level meeting conducted by the two nations.

Delhi and Moscow are poised to finalize a several agreements during the meeting, which takes place months after the Washington escalated pressure on India to halt importing Russian energy.

It also happens amid the American President administration holding a round of talks with Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to end the war.

India and Russia have been strategic friends for a long time, and Putin and Modi have a warm rapport. Here is a look at why they both depend on each other – and what to look out for as they hold talks.

A Special Friendship, Economic Agreements and International Dynamics

Why are ties with India key for the Moscow?

Well, for a start, examine the numbers:

• A population of close to a one and a half billion people.
• Economic growth above 8%. India is the world's fastest growing major economy.

That makes it a extremely attractive outlet for Russian products and exports – notably petroleum.

India is the world's third largest importer of crude oil and has been purchasing substantial amounts from Russia. That was not historically the case. Prior to the Kremlin's comprehensive military action of Ukraine, just 2.5% of India's oil imports were sourced from Moscow.

That figure surged to 35% as India took advantage of Russian discounted prices triggered by sanctions against Moscow and Russia's limited entry to the EU market.

India was content. Washington was not.

In October, the Trump administration imposed an extra 25% tariff on Indian exports, arguing that by purchasing oil from Russia, India was contributing to fund the Kremlin's war chest. Orders from India for Russian oil have subsequently declined. President Putin will be anxious for India to maintain its imports.

For Moscow, defence exports to India are another key focus and have been since the USSR era. In the run-up to Putin's visit, there were reports that India is considering to acquire state-of-the-art Russian warplanes and missile defence systems.

Russia, hit by a labour deficit, also views India as a key source of skilled workers.

But there's geopolitics involved, too.

The Kremlin enjoys demonstrating that US and European attempts to isolate it over the war in Ukraine have failed.

Traveling to India and conferring with Prime Minister Modi is a method of doing that.

So is visiting China and conducting discussions with Xi Jinping, as Putin did recently. He conferred with Modi on the that trip. The picture of the three leaders laughing and talking together broadcast a clear signal that, regardless of the war in Ukraine, Moscow has major allies who champion the concept of a "world with multiple power centers".

Russia lauds its "unrestricted partnership" with China.

It is equally emphatic about its "unique and exceptional strategic partnership" with India.

That is a clear contrast to Moscow's strained relationship with the EU.

"I think the Kremlin is sure that the West, including Europe, completely failed," argues political analyst Andrei Kolesnikov.

"We are not isolated, because we have ties to Asia and the Global South. Economically, this is the coming era. In that sense Russia returned as the key player in these areas of the globe, similar to the Soviet Union."

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

Examination of Modi's Balancing Act

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

India-Russia ties extend to the Cold War and have survived regardless of the changing global political landscape.

Putin has reportedly put more attention into this bond than other Russian leaders in the past.

As for Modi, even after being subjected to intense scrutiny from Western governments to condemn Russia over its war in Ukraine, he stated that dialogue was the only way to end the war.

This was India's "independent policy" being exercised – with Modi maintaining a particular place in the geopolitical order where he maintained warm ties with Moscow while preserving his links with the West simultaneously.

That worked – until Trump came back to the White House. India-US ties have hit an all-time low in recent times as the two countries have been unable to settle the trade deadlock.

In this scenario, Putin's visit carries more importance for Modi than in the past because it will test India's foreign policy balancing act. He will be walking the metaphorical fine line here.

Modi would aim to demonstrate Indians at home and in the wider world that he still considers Putin as his friend and has resisted demands from Trump, whom he has previously called his "good friend".

But he has also encountered scrutiny from his allies in Europe – just this week, the German, French and UK ambassadors in India wrote a unprecedented joint article in a leading newspaper challenging Russia's approach on Ukraine.

And so, Modi will have to guarantee that the consolidation of India-Russia ties does not eclipse continuing discussions with the US and his cooperation with Europe.

"For India, the challenge is maintaining equilibrium – preserving independence while managing pressure from Washington and reliance on Moscow," noted a Delhi-based think-tank.

Modi's further priority will be to realize the full capacity of bilateral trade between India and Russia.

Analysts have frequently said that the trade partnership between the two strong allies has not lived up to expectations for many years.

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