External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began a three-day visit to Russia on Monday, arriving in Moscow to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting and hold high-level discussions ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s expected visit to New Delhi early next month. The EAM met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for talks covering bilateral, regional and global issues, including cooperation within the SCO, BRICS, the UN and the G20, according to state-run TASS.
During his meeting with Lavrov, Jaishankar said the discussions would also include an exchange of views on the “complex global situation” with the openness that has always characterised India–Russia ties. “This includes the Ukraine conflict as well as developments in the Middle East and Afghanistan. India supports recent efforts towards establishing peace,” he said, expressing hope that all sides would approach this goal constructively. “An early cessation of the conflict and ensuring an enduring peace is in the interest of the entire international community. India–Russia ties have long been a factor of stability in international relations. Their growth and evolution is not only in our mutual interest, but also in that of the world.”
He further underlined the significance of his Moscow visit in the context of preparations for President Putin’s upcoming trip to India. “This occasion is all the more important as we prepare for President Putin’s visit to India for the 23rd annual summit. A number of bilateral agreements, initiatives and projects are under discussion across various fields. We look forward to their finalisation in the coming days, which will add more substance and texture to our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”
Both ministers reviewed progress on several agreements and initiatives that New Delhi and Moscow aim to finalise ahead of the summit, expected around December 5. President Putin last visited New Delhi in 2021, and this year’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to further strengthen the long-standing India–Russia annual summit mechanism, under which 22 meetings have been held so far, alternating between the two countries.
On Tuesday, Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Modi at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, which President Putin is likely to address virtually. Reiterating India’s support for ongoing international efforts to end the Russia–Ukraine conflict, he said: “India supports recent efforts towards establishing peace. We hope that all parties approach that goal constructively. An early cessation of the conflict and the ensuring of an enduring peace is in the interest of the entire international community.”
Russia remains one of India’s closest and most enduring strategic partners, and officials on both sides expect significant outcomes from President Putin’s upcoming visit, aimed at giving further depth and momentum to the bilateral relationship.
