On December 7, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. A Joint Statement was issued, highlighting key areas of cooperation including defence and security, energy (including the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project expansion), bilateral trade enhancement, space cooperation, and digital technology collaboration. PM Modi hosted a private dinner for President Putin and presented him with a Russian-language edition of the Bhagavad Gita as a goodwill gesture — symbolising the deep civilisational ties between the two nations. The summit took place against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, in which India has maintained its policy of strategic autonomy and has called for dialogue and diplomacy. India-Russia bilateral trade has grown significantly in 2025, driven largely by Indian imports of Russian crude oil at discounted prices following Western sanctions. The two sides discussed the India-Russia 2+2 Ministerial dialogue, progress on the Chennai–Vladivostok maritime corridor, and cooperation under the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Putin's visit to India — only his second since 2019 — was seen as a significant diplomatic engagement, demonstrating India's continued ability to maintain balanced relationships with major global powers despite geopolitical pressures. The summit reinforced India's 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' with Russia, a relationship that dates to the 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation.