External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday and engaged in a high-level meeting that came against the backdrop of US criticism of India’s energy trade with Russia and steep tariffs imposed by Washington.
Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, days after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval also held talks with Putin, during which the Russian leader confirmed plans to visit India later this year.
Trade and Cooperation
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with both sides pledging to expand bilateral trade in a “balanced and sustainable manner.” The Indian minister stressed the importance of quickly addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory hurdles.
Speaking at a joint media briefing after their talks, Jaishankar highlighted the durability of India-Russia ties. “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, adding, “Geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment remain its key drivers.”
The meeting comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and recently imposed 50 per cent tariffs, adding a layer of pressure on New Delhi’s foreign policy balancing act.
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