Amid swirling reports from Russian state-run media, Indian officials clarified on Thursday that no specific dates have been set for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposed visit to India. The clarification followed National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s high-level meetings in Moscow with senior Russian officials, where the topic of the visit did come up.
The annual India-Russia Summit is traditionally hosted alternately by the two countries. This year, it is India’s turn to host President Putin, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow for the summit in 2024.
However, contrary to Russian media reports claiming that Putin would arrive in India in late August, officials familiar with the matter stressed that no such timeframe has been decided.
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“The NSA, during his visit to Moscow, said that the dates of President Putin’s visit to India are being worked out,” a person with knowledge of the development said on condition of anonymity.
“The time of end-August being reported is incorrect,” the person added, clearly stating that Doval did not mention any specific date or period during his engagements.
Strategic Talks Amid Rising Global Pressures
Ajit Doval’s trip to Moscow, though scheduled earlier, gained renewed strategic importance in light of recent global developments. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% punitive tariff on Indian imports — a move reportedly aimed at penalising India for its continued purchase of Russian oil.
Doval’s meetings in Moscow focused not just on security cooperation but also on strengthening India-Russia economic ties, especially as geopolitical tensions rise. The timing underscores the balancing act New Delhi continues to perform in managing relations with both Moscow and Washington.
Jaishankar to Follow with High-Level Economic Talks
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is anticipated to visit Russia during the third week of August, which will further accelerate the momentum. The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), the main forum for bilateral trade and economic cooperation, would be one of the events of his visit.
The rush of diplomatic missions demonstrates how deep India and Russia’s connection has remained. Indian officials are adamant that Putin’s visit, which is anticipated this year, will only be confirmed if both parties agree on dates that work for both parties, despite rumors and increased media attention.
As India navigates a rapidly changing global order where its traditional partners are repositioning priorities, preparatory work and consultations are currently taking place behind the scenes to make sure the next summit lives up to its strategic importance.
While President Putin’s visit is on the cards and preparations are in motion, the Indian side has made it clear: no date has been finalised yet, and reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.
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