According to Kremlin foreign policy assistant Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in China to discuss “preparation for the December visit” to India. The two leaders will meet Monday in Tianjin, China, as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
Putin’s December visit to India coincides with the two nations’ expanding relationship and follows the US imposing tariffs on New Delhi for its purchases of Russian oil. “We will discuss preparations for our president’s upcoming visit to India in December, which is at the very end of the year,” Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov was reported by Sputnik as saying. Numerous bilateral talks between our president and the SCO and SCO + summits are scheduled.
There are already around ten meetings planned,” Ushakov continued. Putin is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 3. In the midst of imposing 50% tariffs on India, including 25% penalty tariffs, due to India’s purchase of Russian oil, Modi and Putin are meeting.
According to AFP, Moscow’s governmental budget relies heavily on the energy revenues. Russia’s Western allies have attempted to cut off Ukraine’s export revenue since Moscow’s armed attack on the country in 2022. However, Russia has redirected energy sales from Europe to other nations, such as China and India, to make up for the loss.
According to those with knowledge of the situation, a precise date for Putin’s yearly summit with Prime Minister Modi in India has not yet been decided. Ajit Doval, the national security adviser, had discussed Putin’s visit with senior Russian officials in Moscow earlier this month. According to the persons, NSA Doval stated during his visit to Moscow that the dates of Putin’s visit were still being finalized, but he gave no details regarding the precise day or time of the visit.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, had stated earlier this year in March that Putin had accepted PM Modi’s invitation. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first bilateral foreign visit to Russia following his reelection last year is symbolic,” Lavrov said.