MEA confirms Putin state visit on December 4-5, key defence issues to be raised

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – India on Friday confirmed that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s State visit to India is on December 4–5 came at a crucial moment for the partnership.

It reiterated that long-pending S-400 deliveries to a wider defence review will be the focus of the summit, which gives both sides a chance to reset expectations and map the next steps of their strategic ties.

President Putin will arrive in India for a state visit from December 4–5, 2025.

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the Russian leader for the 23rd Annual Summit.

The meeting is expected to review the full spectrum of bilateral ties and outline the next phase of their ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’.

President Droupadi Murmu will receive President Putin during the visit and host a state banquet in his honour.

The officials said the format underscored the significance both sides continue to attach to the relationship at a time when wider geopolitical shifts have placed additional weight on long-standing partnerships.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said National Security Summit that India intends to push for “clearer answers” from Moscow regarding delays in the delivery of S-400 air defence systems.

“Potentially S-400 is not ruled out, but don’t expect any announcements during this. This meeting will focus on the broader elements of cooperation on defence between the two sides,” he said, adding that India wants to ensure “some of these delivery delays are ended” and that the government receives firmer timelines for pending equipment.

Singh declined to comment on any new procurement decisions, he acknowledged that India and Russia continue to maintain “a very large defence programme”, including contracts that have slipped on milestone schedules.

“I don’t want to talk about specific procurement decisions. That is essentially, in a sense, giving advanced warning of what has to be cabinet decisions. So I’m not going to talk about specific platforms, but we have a very large defence programme with them. Including the existing S-400 contracts, which are delayed. But they’ve now promised to deliver the balance of batteries in the coming financial year,” he said.

India’s S-400 systems have been operationally significant; during Operation Sindoor, they were used to bring down Pakistani fighter and reconnaissance aircraft over 300 km inside Pakistani territory, which the armed forces have described as a “game-changer”.\

Moscow calls the upcoming trip “extremely grand” and “fruitful”

In Moscow, the Kremlin has also emphasized the importance of the upcoming visit.

Russian foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told state broadcaster VGTRK earlier this month that the trip would be “extremely grand” and “fruitful,” noting that both sides were actively preparing.

“The visit provides an opportunity to put into practice the agreement between the prime minister of India and the Russian president that they will meet annually for a thorough discussion on both bilateral affairs and current international issues,” Ushakov said.

The combination of strategic signaling, defence negotiations, and long-pending deliveries ensures that this year’s summit carries particular weight, giving both partners an opportunity to recalibrate expectations at a crucial moment for regional and global stability, ahead of Putin arrival.