Amid Trumps tariff over Russian oil, NSA Doval meets Putin in Moscow
Amid US tariff tensions over India's Russian oil imports, NSA Ajit Doval met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. According to reports, Doval was expected to discuss India's purchases of Russian crude oil as well as ongoing defence collaboration during his visit.
New Delhi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin during his visit to Moscow. The meeting was also attended by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, and India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar.
A video shared by the Russian Embassy in India showed Putin and Doval shaking hands before beginning formal talks. "#Russia’s President Vladimir Putin received #India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval at the Kremlin," the embassy posted on X.
Earlier in the day, Doval met his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu. In televised remarks during their meeting, Shoigu said, "We are committed to further active cooperation in order to form a new, more just and sustainable world order, ensure the supremacy of international law, and jointly combat modern challenges and threats."
Putin to visit India soon
According to a Reuters report citing an Indian government official, Doval was expected to discuss India's purchases of Russian crude oil as well as ongoing defence collaboration during his visit.
Following the meeting, Doval reportedly said that President Putin is expected to visit India soon, though a date is yet to be finalised.
Doval's visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and the United States. US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent additional tariff on Indian goods in response to New Delhi's continued imports of discounted Russian oil, claiming such purchases were fuelling Putin's war in Ukraine. In three weeks time Indian goods will be subjected to 50 per cent tariffs.
India's response to Trump's tariffs
India has strongly criticised the move. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the tariffs "unjustified and unreasonable", adding that India's oil imports from Russia "are guided solely by market dynamics and the need to ensure energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens".
"It is extremely unfortunate that the US has chosen to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest. We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable. India will take all steps necessary to protect its national interests," the MEA said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin had also criticised the United States, accusing it of exerting "illegal trade pressure" on New Delhi, saying that India has the sovereign right to trade with any country of its choice.