The Russian presidents trip to New Delhi is scheduled to take place before the end of 2025, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India before the end of the year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed, saying he expected the trip to be "meaningful."

Putin previously mentioned the visit last month, saying he looked forward to meeting "my dear friend, our trustworthy partner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi" in New Delhi in December. He added that Moscow aims to address the growing trade imbalance with India during the summit.

"We are actively preparing for Putin's visit to India, which is scheduled for the end of this year. We expect it to be a meaningful visit," Peskov told reporters on Monday. He declined to reveal the agenda for the trip, saying details "will be announced in a timely manner."

Peskov was responding to question on a report by the Economic Times, which claimed Russia and India plan to sign a labor mobility deal to protect Indian workers' rights and boost recruitment amid rising demand for skilled labor in machinery and electronics.

The traditionally close partnership between Moscow and New Delhi, with India among Russia's top oil buyers, has come under Western pressure in recent months. In late October, the US sanctioned Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, and earlier President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on India, accusing it of "funding" the Ukraine conflict through oil purchases.

Indian officials have dismissed Western criticism over Russian oil imports, noting that the US and EU still trade with Moscow. New Delhi says its energy policy is driven by "national interest" and that it "does not subscribe to any unilateral sanctions." While some refiners paused new orders, others - including the state-run Indian Oil Corporation - said they will continue buying from non-sanctioned Russian suppliers. Data from Kpler showed India's Russian crude imports rose to 1.48 million barrels per day in October, up from 1.44 million in September.

Trade in other sectors has also grown, with Russia doubling its diamond exports to India year-on-year to $31.3 million. The two nations have also signaled plans for deeper military cooperation, focusing on technology transfers for aviation, naval, and missile platforms. Last month, they held the 14th INDRA naval exercise to enhance coordination in modern warfare.

(RT.com)