Putin’s India Visit in 2025: Dates Unconfirmed Amid Geopolitical Tensions and Tariff Threats

Speculation surrounding a potential visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to India in 2025 has been tempered by official clarifications that no specific dates have been finalized. Sources familiar with the matter, speaking during National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s recent visit to Moscow, dismissed reports suggesting an end-August timeline, stating that the dates are still under negotiation.

This anticipated visit, which would mark Putin’s first trip to India since December 2021, is set to be his first since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, highlighting the enduring India-Russia strategic partnership amid complex global dynamics.

The clarification follows remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in April 2025, who confirmed preparations for Putin’s visit without specifying a timeline. The visit, expected in the second half of 2025, aligns with the annual India-Russia Summit, a commitment reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his July 2024 visit to Moscow and the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.

Discussions are likely to focus on deepening bilateral ties in defense, energy, and trade, with ambitions to double bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030, including through the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor.

Doval’s Moscow visit, aimed at strengthening energy and defense cooperation, occurs against the backdrop of strained India-U.S. relations. U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on August 6, 2025, imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, raising the total to 50%, as a penalty for India’s continued procurement of Russian crude oil despite Western sanctions.

India has defended its energy purchases, emphasizing national interest and market dynamics. The tariff issue may feature prominently in Putin’s discussions with Modi, alongside potential mediation efforts in the Ukraine conflict, as India maintains open channels with both Moscow and Kyiv.

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India’s neutral stance on the Ukraine war, coupled with Modi’s 2024 visits to both Russia and Ukraine, positions it uniquely to facilitate dialogue. Putin has praised India’s balanced approach, with Russian officials suggesting India could serve as a venue for peace talks, particularly as U.S. policy shifts under Trump’s administration.

The visit, if realized, underscores India’s strategic balancing act, navigating pressures from the West while reinforcing its historic ties with Russia.

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