Putin and Modi seal their alliance until 2030 with more oil and defense agreements despite Trump’s trade pressure

“The friendship between India and Russia has stood firm like a lodestar for the last eight decades and… has always stood the test of time,” Modi proclaimed, revealing his desire to “further strengthen ties” between New Delhi and Moscow. In a joint statement after a press conference in which they did not answer questions, the two leaders guaranteed that their alliance is “resilient to external pressure”.

Putin has explained that the boost that is intended to be given to collaboration with his partner will mean a increase in bilateral trade volume of 100 billion dollars. Likewise, he has guaranteed that “Russia is ready for uninterrupted fuel shipments.” India, which is the second country that exports the most Russian oil after China, has had to face tariffs of 50% on all its exports to the US since last summer for this business.

The document ratified by both leaders guarantees collaboration towards India’s “self-sufficiency” in terms of security. Although the announcement of some key weapons purchases by New Delhi was expected, such as S-500 anti-aircraft missile systems and SU-57 fifth-generation fighters, the memorandum is more ambiguous and states that Moscow will continue to meet the “equipment needs” of the Indian Army.

The agreements also include the inauguration of two new Indian consulates on Russian soil and a renewed visa system, the opening of a radio channel Rusia Today in India – according to Putin it is so that Indians receive “objective information” – memoranda on shipbuilding, training of Indian sailors to operate in polar waters and investments in new sea routes, civil nuclear energy and critical minerals.

On the other hand, Modi confirmed that the technical teams are working to close “as soon as possible” a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, the bloc led by Moscow. The objective is to institutionalize the exchange of goods and establish payment mechanisms in national currencies that allow operating outside the Western financial system controlled by the dollar.

Putin detailed that the agreements include a shift in technology transfer and announced the construction of a large pharmaceutical factory in Russia that will use “advanced Indian technology,” which could reduce Russian dependence on Western medicines.

Peace in Ukraine

Before the joint statement, Modi and Putin, who visited Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, opened the summit with a television intervention in which they discussed the development of the war in Ukraine. The Indian Prime Minister insisted that his country “It is not neutral, but our position is peace”and demanded a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

The Russian autocrat, after repeating that he will achieve the “liberation” of Donbas at the negotiating table or by force of arms, confirmed that his emissaries are actively working with the Trump Administration in the drafting of a “possible peaceful declaration”. A revelation that could suggest a tangible diplomatic breakthrough beyond preliminary contacts.

The Kremlin leader took advantage of the bilateral meeting to thank Modi for his personal involvement in the negotiations and highlighted the importance of finalizing the agreements. “Thank you for your attention and for your interest in finding solutions to this situation. Our positions are deeply rooted in history, but It is not the words that matter, but the substance of the matter.which is very important,” he added.