National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow amid heavy tariffs imposed by the US over India's purchase of Russian oil, according to state-run RIA news agency.
A video shared by the Kremlin press service showed the NSA shaking hands with Putin as they proceeded with the discussions.
Doval had arrived in Russia on Wednesday to discuss defence and energy ties. Earlier in the day, the NSA announced that Putin will visit India later this year. This would make it the Russian president's first visit to India since the Ukraine conflict commenced in 2022.
The NSA said New Delhi is "excited and delighted" about Putin's upcoming visit, point out that past India-Russia summits were "watershed moments" in bilateral relations.
On Thursday, Doval also met Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, who said the relationship between the two countries is built on "strong, time-tested ties of friendship", according to state-run TASS news agency.
Pointing out that a multi-level trust-based political dialogue is effectively functioning between our countries now, Shoigu said both sides are finalising the dates for the next full-scale negotiations.
