Top Modi adviser holds talks with Russian deputy PM
Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has held talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in Moscow, the Russian government said in a statement on Friday.
This was Doval’s third high-level meeting in two days in the Russian capital. On Thursday, he held talks with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu and met with President Vladimir Putin.
Manturov, who was the co-chair of the last session of an Indo-Russian intergovernmental commission in Mumbai in November 2024, discussed a range of issues with Doval on Friday.
“The sides discussed issues of military-technical cooperation between Russia and India, as well as the implementation of joint projects in other strategic sectors, including civil aircraft, metallurgy, and the chemical industry,” the Russian government said.
Doval’s planned trip to Moscow coincided with a sharp deterioration in India-US ties, with US President Donald Trump imposing 25% tariffs on Indian imports over the country’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
This was in addition to the 25% that Washington already imposed as the two countries failed to reach a trade agreement.
During Doval’s visit, the sides discussed Putin’s trip to India for this year’s annual bilateral summit. The Indian national security adviser said on Thursday that the annual meetings “have always been watershed moments,” adding: “They have consistently provided a new direction to our relations.”
On Friday, Putin spoke on the phone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, updating him on efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. “We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” Modi said on X.
Vladimir Putin is expected to visit New Delhi at the end of this year for the annual bilateral summit with Modi.
