India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior officials of Russia in Moscow on Thursday (August 7, 2025). During this time, India and Russia reiterated their commitment to their strategic partnership with each other.
The meeting with NSA Ajit Doval’s Russian President Putin has taken place a day after US President Donald Trump’s announcement of doubling 25 percent tariffs imposed on India for buying Russian oil. Ajit Doval’s visit to Russia was already decided and in this he discussed with Russia’s leadership to strengthen strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Indian NSA Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kremlin, before Doval discussed widely with Sergei Shigu, Secretary, Russian Security Council. During the discussion, Doval and Shoigu emphasized the importance of extremely special relations between India and Russia amid growing uncertainties on the global stage, which was a clear indication towards the upheaval arising out of the policies of Trump administration.
We give importance to our partnership- Doval
NSA Ajit Doval said, “We give great importance to our strategic partnership. You (Shoiga) rightly said that the world is going through a very upheaval at this time. There are many uncertainty, some unknown circumstances and in such environment, there is a very special role of our old strategic and privilege in such environment.”
Sergei Shoigu told priority to strengthen strategic partnership with India
To this, Sergei Shigu, Secretary, Russian Security Council, said, “It is our priority to strengthen the strategic partnership with India, which is a strong relationship between Russia and India and Moscow is based on a priority, which is based on mutual respect, trust, equally understanding of each other’s interests and a desire to advance an agenda.
He said, “We are committed to the creation of a new and durable world system, ensuring the rule of international law and further active cooperation to combat all modern challenges and dangers.”
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