A few weeks before Russian President Vladimir Putin lands in India for the 23rd Annual India–Russia Summit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. This was their sixth meeting this year. The purpose of the meeting was to finalise plans for Putin’s visit and get key agreements ready, especially those linked to defence and mobility.
While Jaishankar was in Moscow, Putin’s close aide Nikolay Patrushev met India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in New Delhi. Their meeting also focused on strengthening bilateral relations.
Jaishankar–Lavrov talks set stage for Putin’s India visit
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said that his frequent meetings with Lavrov have helped both countries stay in sync on major regional and global issues, ANI reported. He added that India and Russia have always spoken openly with each other, even during difficult global situations. “I welcome this opportunity to meet again and our regular interactions, you mentioned six this year so far, have been greatly helpful in advancing our bilateral cooperation and also sharing perspectives on important regional, global and multilateral issues,” he said, according to ANI.
He added that this meeting felt even more significant because both sides are now preparing for President Putin’s arrival in India next month. While the official dates have not been announced, the visit is expected in the first week of December. “This particular occasion, for me, is all the more important as we prepare for President Putin’s visit to India for the 23rd Annual Summit,” he said.
India-Russia to discuss global issue during Putin’s visit
During Putin’s visit, New Delhi and Moscow hope to finalise several bilateral agreements and announce new joint projects. Jaishankar said these efforts would add “more substance and texture” to the India–Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. “We look forward to their (project) finalisation in the coming days. These will certainly add more substance and texture to our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” said Jaishankar.
Jaishankar said the two ministers would also exchange views on the world’s most concerning issues, including the Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Middle East, and developments in Afghanistan
“We will also exchange views on the complex global situation with the openness that has always characterised our ties. This includes the Ukraine conflict, as well as the Middle East and Afghanistan, amongst others,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.
During the meeting, Jaishankar said India welcomes recent attempts at restoring peace in the ongoing conflicts. “An early end to the fighting and a lasting peace is in everyone’s interest,” he said. Jaishankar is currently in Moscow to attend the SCO Council of Prime Ministers meeting, scheduled for Tuesday. President Putin is also expected to meet the SCO leaders during their visit.
The meeting comes at a time when the US has been pressuring India over its imports of Russian oil. Recently, after the US imposed a 50% tariff on India, US President Donald Trump said he discussed trade and India’s reduced purchase of Russian oil during a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jaishankar added that India–Russia relations have long served as a “factor of stability” in global affairs.
India, on the other hand, repeatedly said its oil import decisions are based solely on protecting Indian consumers in an unstable global energy market.