Russian President Vladimir Putin may come to India on 5-6 December for the 23rd India-Russia Summit. This will be his first visit to New Delhi since the Russia-Ukraine struggle begins in February 2022. Kremlin had earlier confirmed that Putin had accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to come to India in May, although both sides have not yet set the date. The news of Putin’s visit in December came after Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with the Russian President during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China on 1 September. Putin’s visit is quite important amidst changing global mobility. India’s relations with the US have stressed, while its relations with Russia and China are deeper.
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US President Donald Trump has imposed 50 percent tariff on India over trade with Russia. US officials have accused New Delhi of indirectly funding the Ukraine War through the purchase of crude oil from Moscow. Giving a new threat to India amidst the ongoing trade talks with the US, Trump Administration Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik said that New Delhi needs improvement and warned that if he wants to sell goods to American consumers, he would have to coordinate with the President.
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The Government of India has strongly condemned the Washington’s stance as hypocritical and inappropriate. Officials insisted that the import of crude oil is inspired by the market concerns and the country’s interests are given priority. India has also accused Western countries of adopting double standards and reported that other major economies, including some economies in Europe, are continuing trade with Russia. Despite the US pressure, India have not given any indications to stop their oil trade with Moscow, which has emerged as a major crude oil supplier since Western sanctions on Russia.