External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar called on Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Monday, with the two leaders discussing ways to further strengthen India-Russia relations and expand cooperation across key sectors.
Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar and Joint Secretary (ERS) Mayank Singh were also part of the Indian delegation. The discussions covered bilateral trade, economic cooperation, energy and preparations for upcoming high-level engagements between the two countries.
During the meeting, Dr. Jaishankar conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings to President Putin and handed over a personal message from the Prime Minister. He highlighted the steady growth of the India-Russia partnership, particularly in trade, energy, fertilisers and nuclear cooperation.
Dr. Jaishankar said the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission meeting held earlier in the day had produced positive outcomes. He emphasised the need to further strengthen economic ties and address issues related to market access, tariff and non-tariff barriers, payment mechanisms and greater business-to-business engagement.
The External Affairs Minister said these steps would be important for achieving the target of increasing bilateral trade to 100 billion dollars by 2030.
Dr. Jaishankar also said Prime Minister Modi looks forward to meeting President Putin at the upcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek and to welcoming him to India for the BRICS Summit. He added that the two leaders are also expected to hold their annual summit at a mutually convenient time.
President Putin, for his part, offered to increase Russia’s supply of fertilisers to India. He said Moscow was taking steps to support Indian farmers and the country’s agricultural sector. Putin also noted the growth in bilateral trade during the year and said India and Russia were cooperating across practically all areas.
Earlier in the day, Dr Jaishankar and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov co-chaired a meeting of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation in Moscow.
Speaking at an event, Dr Jaishankar said the India-Russia partnership had consistently demonstrated resilience and adaptability despite a complex international environment. He said bilateral engagement had continued to deepen, reflecting the mutual interests and confidence underpinning the relationship.
The two sides also reviewed the overall India-Russia partnership and discussed measures to further expand trade and economic cooperation.
Dr. Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on Sunday for a two-day visit. He is also scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, during the visit to exchange views on regional and global developments.
