PM Modi-Putin talks: 5th gen Su-57s, nuclear power plants & US sanctions on agenda - The Times of India

**Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin set to meet on Friday for a bilateral dialogue that will touch on defence, energy and geopolitics** New Delhi and Moscow have confirmed that their leaders will hold a one‑on‑one discussion on Friday, following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Astana. The meeting, scheduled for the Kremlin’s Grand Kremlin Palace, is expected to focus on three headline issues: India’s interest in acquiring Russia’s fifth‑generation Su‑57 stealth fighter, cooperation on the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, and a candid exchange on the impact of U.S. sanctions on Russia’s economy. Both sides have stressed that the talks are “strategic” rather than purely transactional, underscoring the deepening partnership that has survived the turbulence of the Ukraine conflict and shifting global alignments.

On the defence front, Indian officials have indicated that the Su‑57 is being examined as a potential addition to the Indian Air Force’s fleet, complementing the existing mix of Russian‑origin aircraft such as the Su‑30MKI and MiG‑29. The Ministry of Defence has not yet disclosed a concrete procurement timeline, but sources familiar with the negotiations say that discussions will cover technology transfer, joint production possibilities, and financing mechanisms that could bypass Western‑dominated payment systems. Analysts note that a deal of this magnitude would be the first sale of a fifth‑generation fighter to a non‑Russian customer, signalling a significant shift in India’s defence procurement strategy.

Energy cooperation is expected to dominate the second strand of the dialogue. Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom is already engaged in talks with Indian firms on the construction of additional reactors under the Kudankulam and Jaitapur projects, and both sides have expressed a desire to expand the partnership to include small modular reactors and fuel supply agreements. The conversation will also likely address how U.S. sanctions on Russian energy assets affect joint ventures, with both leaders reportedly keen to explore ways to insulate critical projects from external pressure while adhering to international non‑proliferation norms. The meeting comes as India continues to assert its role within the SCO, seeking to balance its strategic autonomy with the realities of a multipolar world order.