In a world undergoing profound geopolitical turbulence—from shifting alliances and sanctions-driven economic realignments to the quiet emergence of a multipolar global order—President Vladimir Putin’s December 2025 visit to India carried an unmistakable sense of strategic intent. Held on December 4 and 5, 2025 as part of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, the visit was Putin’s first to India since the onset of the Russia–Ukraine conflict in February 2022. The timing was symbolically powerful: it coincided with the 25th anniversary of the India–Russia Strategic Partnership, first announced in 2000 and elevated to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in 2010.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India described the visit as “very special,” emphasising its breadth of outcomes, the depth of reaffirmed political trust, and the clarity of direction it provided for the future of the bilateral relationship. In its official briefing, the MEA highlighted that the leaders adopted an extensive Joint Statement, underscoring that—even amid complex global challenges—the partnership remains “time-tested, progressive and multifaceted.”

The summit not only reaffirmed the longstanding "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" between the two nations but also addressed contemporary challenges amid global geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and shifting economic dynamics.

More importantly, the visit revealed how India and Russia are consciously reshaping their engagement. The centre of gravity is shifting from a legacy dominated by arms, hydrocarbons and Cold War-era reflexes to a forward-looking partnership rooted in technology, energy resilience, labour mobility, connectivity and human-centric cooperation.

In essence, the visit marked the quiet emergence of India–Russia 2.0—a partnership aligned to the demands of a new global order. This essay explores the key agreements signed during the visit across various sectors such as trade, economic relations, tourism, defence, and nuclear energy. It further examines the specific benefits accrued to India and how the visit has fortified the Indo-Russian relationship.