During a recent visit to Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his desire to soon meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This sentiment was conveyed while Putin hosted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Kremlin as part of Jaishankar’s two-day diplomatic engagement in Russia. The Russian leader extended his best wishes to Modi through Jaishankar and mentioned the potential for their next meeting to be associated with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Additionally, Putin is anticipated to travel to New Delhi later in the year for the BRICS leaders’ summit scheduled for September.
The discussions between Putin and Jaishankar also underscored the strengthening trade ties between Russia and India. Highlighting this, Putin noted the increase in Russian fertiliser exports to India and affirmed Moscow’s readiness to further augment these supplies. The bilateral trade between the two nations continues to grow, reflecting a mutual interest in expanding economic cooperation.
In a separate meeting, Jaishankar engaged with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. The talks focused on enhancing trade and economic links between the two countries. Manturov emphasized Russia’s willingness to localize nuclear fuel production within India, marking a significant step in their collaborative efforts in the energy sector.
As part of his visit, Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. This meeting aims to delve into bilateral relations as well as to discuss broader regional and global issues. The continuation of these high-level discussions signifies the commitment of both nations to bolster their strategic partnership amidst an evolving international landscape.
