Jaishankar Meets Russian FM Lavrov in Moscow Ahead of Putin’s Upcoming India Visit
India and Russia lock in major deals before Putin lands in Delhi.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar landed in Moscow on Monday for crucial talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, setting the stage for President Vladimir Putin’s high-profile visit to India on December 5. The meeting, held at the iconic Osobnyak mansion, was the final diplomatic push before the 23rd India-Russia annual summit and underscored the enduring “special and privileged strategic partnership” between the two nations.
Jaishankar opened the discussions by thanking Lavrov for their frequent interactions, which he credited for driving unprecedented cooperation across defense, energy, trade, and technology. He revealed that dozens of bilateral agreements and flagship projects are now in the final stages of negotiation, hinting that several big-ticket announcements could be sealed during Putin’s New Delhi trip, giving fresh energy to a relationship that has withstood global turbulence.
The duo also exchanged detailed views on burning global crises, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, escalating violence in the Middle East, and instability in Afghanistan. Jaishankar reiterated India’s support for recent diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict, stressing the need for dialogue and a negotiated settlement while maintaining New Delhi’s carefully balanced stance between Moscow and the West.
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Lavrov welcomed India’s independent foreign policy and expressed Moscow’s eagerness to expand collaboration in nuclear energy, space, and the Arctic route. Both sides described their partnership not just as mutually beneficial but as a stabilizing force in an increasingly polarized world, with Jaishankar calling it “one of the steadiest relationships in global politics.”
As Putin prepares to touch down in India next month, Monday’s Moscow meeting signals that the summit will go far beyond symbolism, potentially delivering new defense deals, expanded rupee-rouble trade mechanisms, and joint positions on global forums, reinforcing India’s strategic autonomy amid mounting Western pressure.
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