India's equity benchmarks are set to open higher on Friday, after last session's steep intraday losses, on optimism that a proposed U.S.-Russia presidential meeting next week could ease Washington's stance on India's energy engagement with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India soon, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Thursday. Doval, who is in Moscow, did not specify the dates, but Interfax news agency reported it's likely to take place later this year.

Just a day after Trump’s harsh new tariffs on India, NSA Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to reaffirm and expand the India–Russia strategic partnership. With U.S. pressure mounting over Russian oil imports,