India, Russia Gear Up for Putin’s Visit: Lavrov and Jaishankar Hold Key Talks in Moscow
Moscow, Aug 21 (TTP): Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will visit India later this year for a high-level summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The announcement came after Lavrov’s wide-ranging talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where both sides pledged to prepare a “solid package of documents” to strengthen their strategic partnership.
The discussions in Moscow touched upon defence cooperation, energy ties, trade imbalances, connectivity projects, and the Ukraine conflict, underscoring the depth and complexity of the long-standing India-Russia relationship.
Putin-Modi Summit Preparations Underway
At a joint press conference, Lavrov emphasized that Moscow and New Delhi are building on a tradition of high-level annual summits.
“We discussed the upcoming events which are part of this dialogue including preparation for the visit of the President of the Russian Federation to India which will take place by the end of this year. We have plans to prepare to come up with a solid package of documents for this summit and undoubtedly we have a good tradition,” Lavrov said.
The summit is expected to reinforce the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two nations, a framework established in 2000 and consistently maintained through regular leader-level meetings.
Defence Ties Remain a Pillar of Relations
Lavrov highlighted the deep-rooted military cooperation between India and Russia, noting their regular joint exercises and robust defence-industrial ties.
“We have good traditions in the field of military cooperation. We hold joint exercises, and in the field of military and technical cooperation, which is also underpinned by our shared history,” he remarked.
Jaishankar echoed this sentiment, stressing that Russia supports India’s Make in India initiative, including through joint production and technology transfer in the defence sector.
Ukraine Conflict on the Agenda
Lavrov also briefed Jaishankar on the ongoing international discussions regarding the Ukraine conflict, including dialogues with the United States.
He explained that following the recent phone call between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi, Moscow updated New Delhi on the state of negotiations:
“We also spoke about the fact that there is an interest in a rapid settlement and we discussed how this willingness to reach an agreement could serve the legitimate interests of all participants,” Lavrov said.
India has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to end hostilities in Ukraine, balancing its neutral stance while maintaining strong ties with both Russia and Western partners.
Jaishankar: India-Russia Relations Among the Steadiest
In his remarks, EAM Jaishankar described India-Russia relations as one of the “steadiest of the major relationships” since World War II.
“Geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment remain its key drivers,” he said.
The Indian minister underlined that the Inter-Governmental Commission meeting held earlier with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov focused on addressing trade imbalances, particularly by boosting Indian exports to Russia in sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and textiles.
He also raised the issue of ensuring long-term fertilizer supply, as well as opportunities for Indian skilled workers in IT, construction, and engineering to contribute to Russia’s labor market.
Connectivity and Energy Cooperation
Both ministers reaffirmed the importance of enhancing connectivity to expand Eurasian trade corridors. Discussions included progress on:
- The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
- The Chennai–Vladivostok maritime corridor
- Cooperation along the Northern Sea Route
“These corridors promise to deepen economic linkages, reduce transit times, and expand trade access across Eurasia and beyond,” Jaishankar noted.
On energy, both sides stressed the need to sustain cooperation through trade and investments, particularly in hydrocarbons and nuclear power.
Counter-Terrorism and Regional Outreach
Jaishankar reiterated India’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism, underlining New Delhi’s sovereign right to defend its citizens against cross-border terrorism.
Another highlight was the decision to fast-track the opening of two new Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg, aimed at boosting regional outreach, trade, and people-to-people ties.
What Lies Ahead
The upcoming Putin-Modi summit in India is expected to yield agreements spanning defence, energy, trade diversification, and strategic connectivity projects. Both sides appear committed to upgrading ties even as the global order undergoes rapid shifts.
With defence cooperation remaining the bedrock and new opportunities emerging in technology, energy, and connectivity, the India-Russia relationship is poised to deepen further.
As Jaishankar aptly summed up, the bilateral ties are anchored in history, driven by strategic convergence, and continually evolving to meet 21st-century challenges.
— TheTrendingPeople.com