Russian President Putin likely to visit India on December 5-6 to attend third India-Russia summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to visit Indian on December 5-6 to mark third India-Russia summit, marking his first trip to New Delhi since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022.

The Kremlin had previously confirmed that President Vladimir Putin had accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to visit India in May, though the exact dates were not finalized. News of his December visit comes after PM Modi met Putin on September 1 in Tianjin, China, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has imposed 50 percent tariffs on India over its trade ties with Russia, with US officials accusing New Delhi of indirectly financing the Ukraine war through crude oil imports from Moscow.

Putin's visit carries significant reverence amid shifting global dynamics specially strained ties between India and the Unite States, while a thaw between New Delhi and Beijing has been witnessed. 

In a fresh warning amid ongoing trade negotiations, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said India “needs fixing,” cautioning that if New Delhi wants continued access to American markets, it must “play ball with the President.”

The Indian government has firmly rejected Washington’s position, describing it as “hypocritical and unfair.” Officials stressed that crude oil imports are based on market dynamics, with national interest being the top priority. India also accused Western nations of double standards, noting that several major economies, including some in Europe, continue trading with Russia.

Despite mounting US pressure, India has shown no intention of curbing its oil imports from Moscow, which has become one of its key crude suppliers since Western sanctions on Russia took effect.