STORY: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began summit talks in New Delhi on Friday (December 5).

Putin is on his first visit to India in four years, aiming to boost trade with the top buyer of Russia's arms and seaborne oil as Western sanctions squeeze their decades-old ties.

The visit comes at a time when New Delhi is engaged in talks with the U.S. for a trade deal to cut punitive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on its goods over India's Russian oil purchases.

Putin thanked Modi for his attention and efforts aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

"We had the opportunity - and you gave me that opportunity - to speak in detail about what is happening on the Ukrainian track and about the steps we are taking jointly with some other partners, including the United States, toward a possible peaceful settlement of this crisis," Putin said.

"As our countries and economies grow, the opportunities for cooperation expand," Putin said. "New areas are emerging - high technologies, joint work in aviation, space, and artificial intelligence. We have a very trusting relationship in the field of military-technical cooperation, and we intend to move forward in all these areas."

The two sides are expected to announce a raft of deals at the end of formal talks.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI SHAKING HANDS BEFORE TALKS START / PUTIN THANKING MODI FOR OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF HIM IN DETAIL ON UKRAINE / PUTIN SPEAKING OF RUSSIAN-INDIAN COOPERATION, INCLUDING IN HIGH TECH, AEROSPACE INDUSTRY, AI AND MILITARY

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: NEW DELHI, INDIA (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL - Access all)

1. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI SHAKING HANDS AND TAKING SEATS AS MEMBERS OF RUSSIAN AND INDIAN DELEGATIONS FOLLOW SUIT

2. MODI SPEAKING AND PUTIN LISTENING

3. EVENT IN PROGRESS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"Mr. Prime Minister, dear friends, first of all thank you very much for the invitation."

5. MODI LISTENING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"We had the opportunity - and you gave me that opportunity - to speak in detail about what is happening on the Ukrainian track and about the steps we are taking jointly with some other partners, including the United States, toward a possible peaceful settlement of this crisis."

7. EVENT IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"Thank you for the attention and your efforts aimed at finding a solution of this situation."

9. MODI LISTENING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"(WITH PAUSES FOR TRANSLATION) New areas are emerging - high technologies, joint work in aviation, space, and artificial intelligence. We have a very trusting relationship in the field of military-technical cooperation, and we intend to move forward in all these areas."

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"This once again underscores the level, nature and the trust of our relationship."

12. PUTIN AND MODI