Putin’s India visit dates almost final: NSA Doval after meeting top leadership

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday said dates for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India had “almost” been finalised for the annual India-Russia summit.

Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to give a new direction to the relationship between the two nations. “We are very excited to learn about the visit of President Putin to India... Summit-level meetings have always been watershed points for the ties,” said Doval, who met President Putin and Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu in Moscow.

Giving the Russian perspective, Shoigu said it was important for Moscow and New Delhi to determine the timing of new full-scale negotiations between President Putin and PM Modi.

Russia and India are linked by “strong, time-tested ties of friendship,” Shoigu said, adding that for Moscow the “most important thing is to comprehensively strengthen the special privileged strategic partnership with India”.

Earlier, Doval told Shoigu, “The world is passing through a very tumultuous situation. There is some unpredictability, there are some things that are uncertain and our old strategic and privileged partnership has a very special role.”

Doval went on to cite the importance of India-Russia ties. "We have a very special and long relationship and we highly value our strategic partnership.” He added that high-level engagements between the two nations had contributed substantially to strengthening ties.

Doval’s visit to Moscow was scheduled at least two weeks ago but was postponed as the NSA was unwell. The visit comes amid US President Donald Trump having imposed heavy tariff on India. On Wednesday, Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India, taking the tariff on Indian goods to 50 per cent. The US and its European allies have often accused India of supporting Moscow’s “war machine” in Ukraine.

After Doval said dates for Putin’s visit to India had “almost” been finalised, a section of the international media reported that “Putin’s visit to India could be at the end of August”. Sources in India have denied these reports, calling these incorrect. Putin is expected to travel to New Delhi later this year for the annual India-Russia summit. PM Modi visited Russia last year for the summit, and it is now India’s turn to host Putin.

Meanwhile, Doval, in his opening remarks, also sought Shoigu’s view on the current global situation while mentioning the shared India-Russia interest in combating terrorism. The NSA thanked Russian leaders, including President Putin, for their support following the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack and emphasised India’s ongoing commitment to combating terrorism.

During his meeting with President Putin, Doval was accompanied by India’s Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar. A 30-second video of Doval and Kumar greeting the Russian President was shared by Kremlin.