India Defies Trump's Threats, Prepares To Host Putin Amid Tensions With US Over Oil Imports

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India later this year, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval confirmed on Thursday (7 August) during a visit to Moscow, NDTV has reported.

The announcement comes at a moment of deepening friction between New Delhi and Washington, after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports over its continued purchase of Russian oil, bringing the total tariff on India to 50 per cent.

Trump has also warned of secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian energy unless Moscow halts its war in Ukraine, which is now entering its fourth year, by Friday.

“We are very excited and delighted to learn about the visit of President Putin to India,” Doval said, adding that the dates are "almost finalised."

Since the Ukraine war began, India has become one of Russia’s largest oil buyers, accounting for nearly 45 per cent of its crude imports by mid-2023.

While the US views this as aiding Russia’s war effort, Indian officials have defended the purchases as essential to national energy security.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said on Thursday that Putin is also expected to meet Trump in the coming days, with talks underway to finalise a date and venue. Any breakthrough at that summit remains uncertain, as Putin has rejected calls for a ceasefire and Western officials have accused him of stalling to gain battlefield advantage.