New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Thursday for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening defence and trade ties, as New Delhi faces mounting pressure from Washington over its oil purchases from Moscow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed Putin at the airport, greeting him with a hug on the red carpet before they rode together in the same car.

This is Putin’s first visit to India since the outbreak of the Ukraine war. He is accompanied by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, with discussions expected on fighter jets and air defence systems.

Leaders emphasise friendship and cooperation

In an interview with India Today, Putin expressed his pleasure at meeting "my friend" Modi. He highlighted the extensive cooperation between the two nations, including ship and aircraft manufacturing, nuclear energy, and space exploration.

Modi, posting on X, described himself as "delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India" and looked forward to their interactions during the visit. He hosted Putin for a private dinner on Thursday night, ahead of a summit meeting on Friday.

"India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people," Modi added, sharing a picture of the two leaders inside the car.

Trade and energy top the agenda

The visit comes as India balances strategic Russian oil imports against potential US trade repercussions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said expanding Russia's S-400 air defence system supply was "an important place on the agenda." Moscow may also propose co-production of Su-57 fighter jets.

India is among the world’s largest arms importers, historically reliant on Russia. However, the Russian share of India’s arms imports has dropped from 76% in 2009-13 to 36% in 2019-23, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Under US pressure, Delhi has reduced crude imports from Russia, following sanctions on top producers Rosneft and Lukoil. The Indian government is cautious, fearing that new energy or defence deals could affect trade talks with Washington.

Peskov said Moscow aims to "maintain and increase the volume of our bilateral business with India, without allowing anyone to interfere."

Nandan Unnikrishnan of the Observer Research Foundation told AFP: "There may be some reduction in energy purchases -- under US pressure -- but the overall direction of the ties will be maintained because both countries need each other at the strategic level."

Trade imbalance and strategic considerations

A senior Indian foreign ministry official noted the need to address the trade imbalance, with bilateral trade reaching $68.7 billion in 2024-25, while Indian exports accounted for only $4.88 billion. Delhi has sought greater market access for pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and the services sector.

Harsh V Pant, a King’s College London professor of international relations, described the visit as an effort "to reset their relationship at a critical geopolitical moment for both." He added that the visit signals India’s commitment to strategic autonomy and underscores the importance of the Russia-India relationship.

The foreign ministry official called Moscow-Delhi ties "the most stable relationship in modern times," cautioning that the summit should be seen as "just another annual meeting," despite its global geopolitical significance.

Putin on Ukraine and US mediation

In his India Today interview, Putin acknowledged the complexity of US-led talks on Ukraine. "This is a complex task and a challenging mission that President (Donald) Trump took upon himself," he said.

"Achieving consensus among competing parties is no easy task, but President Trump, truly, I believe -- he sincerely tries to do this," he added. "I think we should engage with this effort rather than obstruct it."