Putin Set to Visit India in Late August, Confirms NSA Doval

New Delhi, 7 August – Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India later this month, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval confirmed during a high-level meeting in Moscow on Thursday.

“We were pleased to learn about President Putin’s visit to our country at the end of August,” Doval was quoted as saying by Sputnik India during talks with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu.

Strategic Visit Amid Tensions with Washington

Putin’s anticipated visit comes at a delicate moment in India’s foreign relations, as tensions with the United States escalate over New Delhi’s continued trade with Moscow—particularly oil purchases. Just a day earlier, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, directly citing India's refusal to cut economic ties with Russia.

Washington has further warned of possible secondary sanctions on nations continuing to buy Russian oil, unless Moscow takes concrete steps to end its ongoing war in Ukraine. A Friday deadline for compliance has been set, raising the diplomatic stakes for India.

Russia Backs India’s Trade Autonomy

In response to Washington’s pressure, the Kremlin has strongly defended India’s right to conduct independent trade. “Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, criticising efforts to coerce nations into severing ties with Russia as “illegitimate.”

Meanwhile, the Kremlin also confirmed that preparations are underway for a separate meeting between Putin and US President Trump. Russian Presidential Adviser Yuri Ushakov stated that a venue for the bilateral summit has been agreed upon and will be announced soon.

Putin’s upcoming visit to India is expected to reaffirm strategic ties between New Delhi and Moscow and send a clear message on India’s stance of balancing diplomacy amid global pressure.