Russia on Friday confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will make an official visit to India in December, highlighting the strengthening ties between Moscow and New Delhi amid US tariffs imposed over India’s purchase of Russian oil.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday during a regional summit in China, where the two leaders are expected to discuss “preparations for the December visit.”
US President Donald Trump has levied tariffs on Indian exports in response to New Delhi’s large-scale purchase of Russian oil, part of Washington’s broader effort to squeeze Moscow into halting its war in Ukraine.
Oil and gas revenues remain a vital source of funding for Russia’s state budget, and Moscow continues to be one of India’s main defence suppliers—a partnership rooted in the Soviet era.
Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, Western nations backing Ukraine have tried to curb Russia’s energy earnings. However, Moscow has managed to reroute much of its oil exports from Europe to markets such as India and China, keeping billions of dollars flowing into its coffers.
New Delhi has defended its stance, saying it turned to Russian crude only after European buyers absorbed supplies it traditionally relied on.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin has drastically reduced international travel during the Ukraine campaign and faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). India, not being a signatory to the ICC, is under no obligation to detain him.
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