NEW DELHI/MOSCOW: Dates for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s much-anticipated visit to India have been “almost finalised,” according to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, who is currently on an official visit to Moscow. The visit will mark the next edition of the annual India-Russia summit and would be Putin’s first trip to India since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Speaking during a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, Doval said, “We are very excited about President Putin’s upcoming visit to India. I think the dates are almost finalised. Summit-level meetings have historically been watershed moments that set the direction for our bilateral ties.”
While Doval expressed optimism, official sources clarified that no specific date or month was mentioned during his engagements. They also denied Russian media reports claiming Putin would visit India in August. However, both leaders are expected to meet later this month on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin.
During his visit, Doval also met with President Putin and discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation, including energy and defence. He conveyed India’s appreciation for Russia’s support following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and emphasized the importance of the India-Russia strategic partnership in a time of global uncertainty.
Doval stressed that the upcoming Modi-Putin summit could provide “new directions for the development of bilateral ties” and deliver “tangible and substantial outcomes.”
Shoigu, echoing similar sentiments, said Moscow remains committed to strengthening its “special and privileged strategic partnership” with India, which is built on “mutual respect, trust, and a unifying agenda.”
Putin’s visit would also come amid growing strains in India-U.S. trade ties, particularly over Washington’s pressure on New Delhi to reduce defence and energy imports from Russia. Kremlin sources have confirmed a planned meeting between Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days. India hopes the meeting may help pave the way for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, easing geopolitical tensions that have indirectly affected New Delhi’s relations with both Washington and Moscow.
NSA Doval was also briefed on recent talks between Russian officials and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, which led to the announcement of the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to visit Moscow soon, further underscoring the deepening strategic dialogue between the two nations.
