Russia’s Deputy PM’s India visit sets stage for Putin’s December summit
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation in agriculture, fertilisers, food processing and other sectors of mutual interest.
Patrushev, who is currently in India, also participated in the World Food India 2025 event at Bharat Mandapam. His visit is seen as part of preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled trip to India in December for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that Prime Minister Modi conveyed his greetings to President Putin and expressed that he looked forward to welcoming him later this year.
During his address at World Food India 2025, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s strength in the global food sector, pointing to the country’s diversity of produce, strong domestic demand, and growing innovation ecosystem.PM Modi underlined that India is among the world’s leading start-up hubs, with several enterprises working in food and agriculture, and said the present period offers the “right time to invest and expand” in the sector.
Possible agendas for December summit
While Patrushev’s visit was focused on agriculture and fertilisers, officials and experts view it as a precursor to broader discussions likely to take place during President Putin’s December visit. Some of the areas that expected to feature prominently at the summit are-
India and Russia continue to maintain a robust and multifaceted partnership. Energy cooperation remains a key pillar, with India importing discounted Russian crude despite Western sanctions, and discussions expected on long-term agreements for crude oil, LNG, and civil nuclear projects such as Kudankulam. Defence ties are also strong, with India remaining a major buyer of Russian hardware, including the S-400 air defence system and fighter aircraft, and exploring joint production under the “Make in India” initiative alongside collaboration in space and cyber security. Agricultural and fertilizer cooperation, highlighted by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Patrushev’s visit to Delhi, aims to strengthen India’s food security while providing Russia with stable markets. Geopolitically, both nations coordinate within multilateral forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS, emphasizing strategic autonomy. President Vladimir Putin’s engagement with India has been consistent, with five visits during the UPA era (2000–2013) and four so far under the Modi-led NDA government (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021), with his upcoming December 2025 trip marking his 10th visit overall.
A year ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia to further strengthen bilateral ties. During the visit, he engaged with President Putin on energy, defence, and trade partnerships, while also discussing regional and global strategic issues. The trip reinforced India’s commitment to maintaining a long-term, multidimensional partnership with Russia.
Changing dimensions of ties
India–Russia relations have traditionally centred on defence. Under PM Modi, the partnership has expanded to cover energy, agriculture, nuclear power, and space. While India has diversified its defence procurements by engaging more with the U.S., France, and Israel, Russia remains India’s top oil supplier in recent years and a major contributor in fertiliser and technology cooperation.During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia last year to further strengthen bilateral ties, he engaged with President Putin on energy, defence, and trade partnerships, while also discussing regional and global strategic issues. The trip reinforced India’s commitment to maintaining a long-term, multidimensional partnership with Russia.
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