Putin to visit India in December amid India-US trade standoff

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India in December, a Kremlin aide confirmed on Friday, as New Delhi and Moscow strengthen ties amid US tariff pressures over India’s purchase of Russian oil.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, including AFP, that Putin will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China on Monday, where they are expected to discuss preparations for the December visit.

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Earlier, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had also confirmed Putin’s upcoming visit, though dates were then undecided. “We share a long and special relationship, and we value this partnership,” he said.

The announcement comes after US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil as the trigger for the punitive step.