New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured India of Russia's commitment to providing uninterrupted fuel supplies to support the rapidly expanding Indian economy. This announcement was made during Putin's visit to New Delhi on Friday, December 5, 2025, following bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel for the fast-growing Indian economy," Putin stated, emphasizing Russia's reliability as a supplier of oil, gas, coal, and other essential resources for India's energy needs. He also noted the successful partnership between the two nations in the energy sector and highlighted a major joint nuclear power project already in progress. Specifically, he mentioned the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in India, where Russia is a key collaborator. Putin also suggested potential cooperation in the construction of small modular nuclear reactors and floating nuclear power plants.
Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the long-standing and robust relationship between India and Russia, emphasizing that energy security remains a "strong and important pillar" of this partnership. He also highlighted the decades-long collaboration in civil nuclear energy, which has been crucial in supporting India's clean energy objectives.
The commitment to uninterrupted fuel supplies comes amidst growing economic cooperation between the two countries. Both leaders have expressed their intention to increase the annual bilateral trade volume to $100 billion. To achieve this, India and Russia have agreed on an economic cooperation program to expand trade until 2030 and are actively pursuing a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Putin stated that an early signing of this agreement would reduce barriers and facilitate the movement of goods, services, and capital.
In addition to energy cooperation, India and Russia signed several agreements covering various sectors, including fertilizers, food safety, shipping, maritime logistics, health, and industrial collaboration. Indian firms also signed a deal with Russia's URALCHEM to establish a urea plant in Russia, further boosting industrial collaboration. Furthermore, Russia has expressed interest in participating in India's "Make in India" program by establishing production facilities for industrial products.
Both countries are also working towards transitioning to national currencies for bilateral payments to avoid using the dollar as a political tool. Putin noted that the share of the ruble and the rupee in bilateral payments has increased to 96%.
The strengthening of ties between India and Russia is evident across various sectors, including defense, trade, and energy. The two countries continue to engage in joint military exercises, such as the INDRA-2025 naval exercises, and are committed to deepening their strategic partnership.
