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- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:32 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The strategic warmth between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long been a defining feature of India–Russia ties. Far from symbolic photo-ops, their rapport reflects New Delhi’s doctrine of strategic autonomy, which ensures that India’s foreign policy and defence decisions remain guided solely by national interest, regardless of pressure from major power blocs.
One of the most talked-about recent displays of their camaraderie unfolded in Tianjin during the SCO Summit. According to official sources, Putin insisted on travelling with PM Modi from the summit venue to the hotel where their meeting was scheduled. The Russian leader even waited around 10 minutes for PM Modi to join him.
What followed was an unusually long car ride, 15 minutes to the venue, another 45 minutes inside the car after arrival, and an hour-long bilateral meeting. Delegations from both sides waited inside the hotel as the two leaders continued an extended conversation.
They were also seen earlier in a three-way huddle with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The frequency and informality of these interactions strengthen perceptions of a warm personal bond, one which then became the highlight of the SCO summit.
Partnership Tested By The Ukraine War
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 put the PM Modi–Putin equation under its most serious strain. India adopted a calibrated, neutral approach, abstaining from all UN resolutions condemning Moscow.
The most decisive moment came at the SCO Summit in Samarkand in 2022, where PM Modi publicly told Putin that “today’s era is not of war.” It signalled India’s discomfort without breaking the relationship.
Trade Boom And Rupee–Rouble Challenge
For all geopolitical friction, economic ties have surged. Bilateral trade hit USD 68.72 billion in FY 2024–25, driven primarily by discounted Russian crude.
The numbers are heavily skewed:
USD 63.84 billion: India’s imports (oil, gas, fertilisers)
USD 4.88 billion: India’s exports
The 13:1 imbalance has flooded India with unused Russian rupees, accumulating in Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs), a mechanism created to bypass Western sanctions.
Putin to Visit India on Dec 4–5
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to New Delhi on December 4–5 for the annual India–Russia summit, where he will hold talks with PM Modi. The visit comes at a crucial time as both nations face ongoing US pressure on India to scale back purchases of Russian oil and defence equipment. According to the External Affairs Ministry, the summit will allow the two leaders to assess progress in bilateral cooperation, outline a roadmap for deepening the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” and discuss key regional and global developments.
Bromance Built On Strategic Pragmatism
From their December 2021 meeting at Delhi’s Hyderabad House, marked by warm handshakes and long limousine conversations, to their hours-long private exchanges at the SCO Summit this year, the Putin–PM Modi chemistry continues to make headlines. But beneath the smiles lies a relationship shaped by hard strategic calculations, mutual dependence, and a shared belief in resisting external pressure.
