While laying out a roadmap to deepen bilateral economic ties during the visit, Jaishankar has also been stressing on the need to address the trade imbalance with Russia; The trip precedes high-level engagements, including a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin scheduled at the end of this month and a possible Putin’ visit to India later this year.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, underscoring India’s intent to deepen ties with Russia even as tensions simmer with the United States over energy trade and tariffs.
“Honoured to call on President Putin at the Kremlin today. Conveyed the warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister @narendramodi.
“Apprised him of my discussions with First DPM Denis Manturov & FM Sergey Lavrov. The preparations for the Annual Leaders Summit are well underway.
“Appreciate his sharing perspectives on the global situation and recent developments on Ukraine,” Jaishankar wrote on X
The meeting followed his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov focusing on expanding trade, investment, energy, fertilisers, health, skilling & mobility, defence, and people to people exchanges, according to the EAM’s post on X
Jaishankar is on a three-day Moscow visit
Coming amid US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and pressure on India to stop buying oil from Russia, claiming that it fuelled the Ukraine war, the meetings are being watched closely
After meeting the Russian Foreign Minister, Jaishankar wrote on X: “Pleased to meet FM Sergey Lavrov today in Moscow.
“Had a detailed discussion on our bilateral ties, including trade, investment, energy, fertilizers, health, skilling & mobility, defense, and people to people exchanges.
We exchanged views on Ukraine, Europe, Iran, West Asia, Afghanistan and the Indian sub-continent. Also spoke about our cooperation in UN, G20, SCO and BRICS. Our meeting helped prepare the outcomes and decisions for the Annual Summit later this year.”
India wants Russia to address trade imbalance
While laying out a roadmap to deepen bilateral economic ties during the visit, Jaishankar has also been stressing on the need to address the trade imbalance with Russia
Addressing the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) on Wednesday, he highlighted that over the past four years, the bilateral trade between the two countries has grown, but so has the trade deficit figure which now stands at a whopping $58.9 billion. He urged Russian firms to step up and engage “more intensively” with Indian businesses.
The crude connection
For Russia it is important that India does not stop buying crude oil under US pressure and expects that oil supplies would continue at the same level.
Russia provides 40 per cent of Indian crude needs
The three-day visit comes at a time when India-US relations are under strain following US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, including an additional 25% penalty linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude.
Summit diplomacy
The trip precedes high-level engagements, including a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin scheduled at the end of this month and a possible Putin’ visit to India later this year.
According to sources, Putin will travel to New Delhi but no dates have been finalised yet.
Of late, PM Modi and Putin have been in regular touch.
Putin on Monday called up PM Modi where the two leaders discussed the Russian president’s Alaska meeting with Trump.
Calling Putin his “friend”, PM Modi said India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supported all efforts in this regard.
“Thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come,” PM Modi wrote on X
This was the second conversation between PM Modi and the Russian President in a fortnight. ENDS
