Putin to Visit India in Late August Amid Tariff Dispute with US

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India in late August 2025, with the visit publicly confirmed by India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during his recent trip to Moscow. This visit comes amid an escalating tariff conflict, as US President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% additional tariff on Indian imports in response to India's ongoing purchases of Russian oil. The US has also threatened secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil.

The visit is being organized as part of the annual India–Russia summit, reflecting the countries’ longstanding strategic partnership and growing trade, especially in energy.

While some sources claim the visit is "almost" finalized for late August, others note that no official date has been publicly set, and Russian statements have been less definitive. However, Indian officials have clearly expressed their readiness and enthusiasm for the visit, which would be Putin’s first to India since before the Ukraine conflict began in 2022.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Putin during recent high-level interactions, and the leaders reiterated their commitment to deepening ties despite pressure from the US.

The timing is significant due to the US-India trade tensions, with President Trump’s administration taking a hardline stance against India's close energy ties with Russia. This may reinforce the importance and symbolism of the visit within both Russia-India relations and the wider global context.

In summary, Putin’s visit to India is poised to occur soon—most likely by the end of August 2025—against a backdrop of a US-India tariff war driven by geopolitical realignment and major energy trade dynamics.