Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to India later this year, with the exact dates under discussion. This update came from India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who confirmed the anticipated visit during his recent meeting in Moscow with Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council.

Doval expressed India’s enthusiasm for the visit, calling it a significant milestone in the deep-rooted India-Russia relationship. He also highlighted how previous bilateral summits have marked key turning points in ties between the two nations.

If finalised, this will be Putin’s first trip to India since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin met twice in 2024. The first was in July, when PM Modi visited Moscow for the 22nd annual India-Russia summit—his first official overseas visit since starting his third term. During this trip, Putin awarded Modi the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Russia’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his role in enhancing bilateral ties. Their second meeting was during the BRICS summit in Kazan in October.

Putin’s upcoming visit also coincides with heightened diplomatic friction between India and the United States. The strain follows New Delhi’s continued import of Russian crude oil, a sticking point for Washington.

Just a day earlier, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Indian goods, linking it directly to India’s oil trade with Russia. The US has also warned of potential secondary sanctions against nations purchasing Russian oil unless Russia ends the Ukraine war by Friday.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin is scheduled to meet President Trump in the coming days, adding further weight to an already tense geopolitical moment.