Moscow [Russia], August 20 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday that he was “pleased to interact with prominent scholars and think tank representatives of Russia,” where he discussed India-Russia ties and broader global issues. “Discussed India-Russia relations, contemporary world geopolitics and India’s viewpoint,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
The interaction came as Jaishankar embarked on an official visit to Russia from Tuesday to Thursday, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). During his visit, he will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and co-chair the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).
The MEA stated that Jaishankar’s visit comes at the invitation of Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. “Dr. S. Jaishankar will undertake an official visit to Russia on 19-21 August 2025 to co-chair the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) scheduled for 20 August 2025,” the statement said.
The External Affairs Minister will also address the India-Russia Business Forum in Moscow. His talks with Lavrov are expected to review the bilateral agenda and exchange perspectives on regional and global issues.
The MEA emphasized that the visit aims to further strengthen the “longstanding and time-tested” India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
The development comes at a time of strain in India’s relations with the United States over New Delhi’s procurement of Russian crude oil. Tensions escalated further on the trade front, with government sources confirming that the U.S. team would not travel to India for the sixth round of bilateral trade negotiations scheduled for August 25. The setback follows former President Donald Trump’s imposition of an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods—raising the total levy to 50 percent—along with an unspecified penalty tied to India’s continued oil imports from Russia.
Earlier on August 13, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that the Jaishankar-Lavrov meeting would cover key issues on the bilateral agenda as well as aspects of cooperation within international frameworks.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him on his recent meeting in Alaska with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Ukraine conflict. Modi reiterated that India consistently supports a peaceful resolution of the conflict and thanked Putin for sharing his perspective on the Alaska meeting. (ANI)
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