Moscow, Aug 30: Russian President Vladimir Putin will make an official visit to India in December, at a time when New Delhi is facing steep US tariffs and sanction threats by Donald Trump over its continued oil trade with Moscow, news agency AFP reported, citing Kremlin officials.The Kremlin had earlier announced that Putin had accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modiās invitation to visit India in May, but the two sides had not finalised a date. News of Putinās December visit comes as PM Modi is set to meet the Russian President on September 1 in Chinaās Tianjin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
This will be Putin’s first visit to India since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022.
The Russian President’s visit assumes greater significance amid the shifting global dynamics, as Indiaās ties with the US face strain while its relations and engagements with Russia and China deepen.
Donald Trump recently announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on India over its trade ties with Russia, raising the total duty to 50 per cent.