NSA Ajit Doval in Russia; crude, S-400, Sukhoi upgrade on agenda

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval arrived in Russia on Wednesday for an annual meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. He is also scheduled to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sources said the visit was part of a pre-scheduled annual engagement, initially planned for two weeks ago. It is being seen as a precursor to the annual India-Russia leaders’ summit, which India is set to host later this year. Putin is expected to visit India for the summit and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is not a response to US pressure related to tariffs or penalties for buying Russian crude oil,” a source clarified.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin met Indian Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, in Moscow.

The Russian Ministry of Defence underlined the continuity of strong defence ties between the two countries. Describing the meeting, it said: “The two sides confirmed their focus on further strengthening specialised cooperation within the framework of a particularly privileged strategic partnership.”

“They discussed key issues of bilateral defence cooperation,” the ministry added.

Doval is expected to raise issues related to future crude oil sourcing, pending defence supplies, including the remaining S-400 missile systems and the upgrade of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets. Russia has assured delivery of the remaining two S-400 air defence systems by 2026.

This is Doval’s first visit to Moscow since Operation Sindoor. However, he had attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s NSA-level meeting in Beijing in June, where he met Aleksandr Venediktov, Deputy Secretary of Russia’s Security Council and Shoigu’s deputy.