Russian President Vladimir Putin To Visit India Soon, Says NSA Ajit Doval: Reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India by the end of this month, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said during a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Moscow, as per reports.

"Now we have established very good relations, which we value very much, a strategic partnership between our countries. We interact at a high level…," Doval said, according to reports.

Sources have confirmed Putin's visit to India but clarified that it might not be in August as is being widely reported.

“NSA Ajit Doval, during his visit to Moscow, has said that the dates of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India are being worked out. No specific date or time has been indicated by the NSA in his engagements. The time of the end of August being reported is incorrect,” a source told news agency ANI.

This comes amid United States imposed additional tariffs on India over its oil imports from Russia. 

Terming the United States' move to impose additional tariffs on India over its oil imports from Russia as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday declared that New Delhi will take "all actions necessary to protect its national interests."

In an official statement, the MEA said, "The United States has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India."

"It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," the statement added.

"We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," the MEA stressed.

This came after US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India.

According to the order issued by the White House, Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States.

After the order, the total tariff on Indian goods will be 50 per cent. While the initial duty becomes effective on August 7, the additional levy will come into effect after 21 days and will be imposed on all Indian goods imported into the US, except for goods already in transit or those meeting specific exemptions.

The Executive Order also allows for modifications based on changing circumstances, including potential retaliation by other countries or steps taken by Russia or India to address the national emergency.

"Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 per cent," the order stated.

"This rate of duty shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 21 days after the date of this order, except for goods that (1) were loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transit prior to entry into the United States before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 21 days after the date of this order," the order added. 

The news of Putin's visit to India also comes amid the news of an upcoming bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. The two leaders are expected to meet next week, a White House official said.

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