External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. The meeting carried weight as US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised India for buying Russian oil and imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods.
Honored to call on President Putin at the Kremlin today. Conveyed the warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister @narendramodi.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 21, 2025
Apprised him of my discussions with First DPM Denis Manturov & FM Sergey Lavrov. The preparations for the Annual Leaders Summit are… pic.twitter.com/jJuqynYrlX
Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, days before Putin’s scheduled visit to India later this year. Earlier this month, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval also met Putin in Moscow and confirmed that the Russian leader would travel to India.
Talks with Lavrov
Before meeting Putin, Jaishankar held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Both sides agreed to expand trade in a “balanced and sustainable manner.”
The minister stressed the need to act “swiftly” to remove non-tariff barriers and regulatory hurdles that slow down bilateral trade.
India-Russia Partnership
At a joint press briefing with Lavrov, Jaishankar highlighted the durability of ties between the two nations. “We believe that relations between India and Russia have been among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War," he said.
He added that “Geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment remain its key drivers."