External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, with discussions covering bilateral cooperation, major regional developments, global challenges and coordination across key multilateral forums.
Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on Sunday for a two-day visit to Russia, which comes ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's expected visit to New Delhi for the BRICS leaders' summit scheduled for September 12 and 13.
Following his meeting with Lavrov, Jaishankar said the two leaders had held a broad discussion on bilateral cooperation, regional hotspots, global challenges and multilateral issues. The talks reflected continued engagement between New Delhi and Moscow on both strategic and economic matters.
According to Russia's state-run TASS news agency, the two foreign ministers discussed the situations in Ukraine, Iran and Afghanistan and coordinated their approaches to key international developments. India and Russia also reiterated their commitment to maintaining close coordination through multilateral platforms, including the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS and the G20.
The two sides agreed to continue their trust-based dialogue at different levels as India and Russia seek to strengthen cooperation amid a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.
Economic engagement was also a major focus of Jaishankar's Moscow visit. On Monday, he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, with discussions covering trade, energy, fertilisers and nuclear cooperation. The engagement highlighted efforts by both countries to expand their economic partnership and explore opportunities across strategic sectors.
Jaishankar also co-chaired a meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
The visit has provided an opportunity for India and Russia to review the progress of their bilateral relationship while discussing some of the most pressing international issues, including the Ukraine conflict and developments in West Asia and Afghanistan.
With the BRICS summit approaching, the discussions in Moscow also underline the importance both countries place on multilateral coordination. The Jaishankar-Lavrov meeting is expected to contribute to continued diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Moscow as the two strategic partners navigate changing global and regional challenges.
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