Putin to visit India in December amid tariff dispute over Russian oil, to hold bilateral talks with PM Modi

Russian President Vladimir Putin will make an official visit to India in December, AFP reported on Friday, citing the Kremlin. The announcement comes as New Delhi faces fresh US tariffs on its exports over large-scale purchases of Russian oil.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday at a regional summit in China. “Preparation for the December visit” will be on the agenda, Ushakov told reporters.

US President Donald Trump recently imposed punitive tariffs on Indian goods, linking the move to New Delhi’s continued oil imports from Russia. The action is part of Washington’s efforts to curb Moscow’s revenues as the conflict in Ukraine stretches on. Energy income remains a critical source of funding for Russia’s state budget.


Despite Western sanctions, Russia has managed to redirect oil exports away from Europe to India and China, maintaining steady revenue inflows.

Beyond energy, Russia remains one of India’s largest defence partners, with ties dating back to the Soviet era. The December visit is expected to underline the strategic weight of the partnership, said the AFP report.

Putin has limited his overseas engagements since the Ukraine conflict and faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. However, as India is not a member of the ICC, it is not bound to act on the warrant.

(With inputs from AFP)