National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has stated that the dates for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India are "almost" finalized. This announcement was made during Doval's visit to Moscow, where he met with President Putin and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. The visit is expected to take place later this year for the annual India-Russia summit.

Doval emphasized the importance of the India-Russia relationship, stating that "We have a very special, long relationship, and we value this relationship". He described previous India-Russia summits as "watershed moments" in bilateral ties and expressed his excitement about the upcoming engagement. Shoigu echoed this sentiment, affirming that Russia and India are linked by "strong, time-tested ties of friendship" and that strengthening the "special privileged strategic partnership with India" is of utmost importance to Moscow.

The announcement of Putin's impending visit comes at a delicate time, with heightened tensions between New Delhi and Washington over India's trade relations with Russia. Just a day prior to Doval's meeting with Putin, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports in response to India's continued purchases of Russian oil, effectively raising the total import duty to 50%. India has condemned these tariffs as "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable" and has vowed to take necessary actions to defend its economic sovereignty.

Despite the pressure from the US and its European allies, who have often accused India of supporting Russia's "war machine" in Ukraine, India has maintained its strong ties with Russia. India has refrained from sanctioning Russian oil since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has become the second-largest buyer of Russian crude after China.

During his meetings in Moscow, Doval also addressed the current global situation and the shared interest of India and Russia in combating terrorism. He thanked Russian leaders, including President Putin, for their support following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reiterated India's commitment to fighting terrorism.

While some reports suggested that Putin's visit to India might occur in late August, Indian sources have denied these claims as incorrect. The exact dates for the visit are still being finalized, but it is expected to take place before the end of 2025. The summit between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to give a new direction to the relationship between the two nations.