Russian leader Vladimir Putin has set out a broad agenda for his much awaited trip to India, signalling continuity in Russia’s strategic partnership with New Delhi and offering rare insight into ongoing exchanges with Washington over the conflict in Ukraine.

In comments published ahead of the December 4-5 state visit, the Russian leader highlighted the long-standing character of ties with India, describing the relationship as one that has expanded across defence, energy and technology over several decades according to Vedomosti. He underlined the depth of his working rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and indicated that both sides had sought an in-person meeting in India for some time.

Despite the constraints of Western sanctions, Moscow and New Delhi have continued to widen their economic cooperation. Bilateral transactions are now settled largely in domestic currencies, and both governments are exploring new mechanisms to ease technical and financial bottlenecks created by the sanctions regime.

Putin also outlined the substance of recent talks with senior US intermediaries, Vedomosti added including discussions on Washington’s latest proposals to stabilise the situation in Ukraine. He characterised the exchanges as detailed and methodical, noting that the US side has organised its plan into several thematic sections to allow more structured negotiations. According to the Russian account, the framework mirrors ideas first raised during the bilateral summit in Anchorage.

The Kremlin maintains that the core elements of the American initiative remain unchanged and that President Donald Trump is personally intent on moving the process forward, though Moscow views the task as complex and politically fraught. Putin dismissed suggestions that rejoining the Group of Eight forms part of any settlement plan.

On Ukraine, the Russian leader reiterated Moscow’s long-held position that regions in the east opted for separation following the referendums conducted during the early phase of the conflict. He argued that Russia had previously urged Kyiv to withdraw its forces but that Ukraine pursued continued military action. Moscow, he said, intends to secure control over Donbas and the wider areas it refers to as Novorossiya, whether through force or through an eventual political arrangement.

Putin signalled that he does not wish to disclose which elements of the US initiative Russia rejects, arguing that the current priority should be to sustain momentum behind any move towards a negotiated outcome rather than to amplify disagreements at this stage.