Putin to Visit India Later This Month, Say Russian Media Reports

Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India at the end of August, according to leading Russian news agency Interfax, which cited comments made by Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval during his visit to Moscow.

“We have now established very good relations, which we value greatly — a strategic partnership between our countries. We engage at the highest levels… We were pleased to learn about President Putin’s upcoming visit to India, scheduled for late August,” Interfax quoted Doval as saying during a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu on Thursday.

Earlier, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov had confirmed that Putin is planning to visit India following an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit is part of the ongoing commitment between the two nations to hold annual summits.

“Our leaders have agreed to meet once every year. This year, it’s our turn,” Ushakov stated during a press briefing.

Putin last visited India on December 6, 2021, for the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit held in New Delhi.

In contrast, Prime Minister Modi made two key visits to Russia last year — one in July for the 22nd India-Russia Summit, and another in October to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has also indicated that preparations for Putin’s India visit are underway. He noted that political dialogue between the two countries continues to develop rapidly due to their shared or closely aligned views on the evolving multipolar world order.

“India and Russia share a long history of relations that have stood the test of time. Today, we enjoy a balanced partnership based on mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests,” Lavrov said in March while addressing the first international conference titled ‘Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations’, which was also attended by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

“It is symbolic that Prime Minister Modi made his first bilateral foreign visit after his re-election to Russia. Now, it is our turn. President Putin has accepted the invitation and preparations for his visit to India are underway,” Lavrov added.

In June, President Putin conveyed his condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi over a tragic passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad, offering sympathies to the victims’ families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

Earlier in May, Putin called PM Modi and strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, offering Russia’s full support to India in its fight against terrorism.

A statement from the Kremlin described the Russia-India relationship as a “strategic and privileged partnership” that remains unaffected by external pressures and continues to grow in all areas.

The statement also confirmed that PM Modi reiterated his invitation to President Putin for the annual summit — an invitation that was “gratefully accepted.”

Although Putin had invited PM Modi to the Victory Day celebrations in Russia, the Indian Prime Minister was unable to attend.

President Putin had also previously sent condolences to President Murmu and PM Modi over the Pahalgam attack, expressing solidarity with India during the tragedy.

With inputs from IANS