Russian President Vladimir Putin to Visit India Soon

Russian President Vladimir Putin is soon to visit India, as National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval announced in Moscow on Thursday. Although exact dates have not been disclosed, according to Russian news agencies, the visit is likely to occur by the end of this year. Doval said, “India and Russia have had a special relationship for a long time. High-level dialogues have strengthened these ties further. The date for Putin's visit is almost finalized, and we are very pleased about it.”

However, Moscow has not yet made an official announcement. U.S. President Donald Trump has accused India of indirectly aiding the Ukraine war by purchasing oil from Russia. In this context, he has decided to impose an additional 25% tariff on imports from India. Additionally, he has warned of imposing secondary tariffs on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil until Russia agrees to a ceasefire.

Economic relations between India and Russia have been strong since the Soviet era. After the war began, India became the largest consumer of Russian oil. By May 2023, India was importing more than 2 million barrels of crude oil daily, which accounted for nearly 45 percent of its total oil imports. Therefore, Putin's upcoming visit is considered geopolitically significant. This visit could demonstrate the strength of the India-Russia partnership, even though relations with the United States are in a sensitive state.