India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, August 21, to discuss several critical issues, including the ongoing Ukraine war. Jaishankar shared warm wishes from Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their conversation.
In a post on the social media platform X, Jaishankar expressed his honor in meeting President Putin and outlined the discussions he had with First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He emphasized the preparations underway for the upcoming Annual Leaders Summit.
Jaishankar’s trip, which began on August 19, aims to finalize plans for President Putin’s anticipated visit to India later this year, likely slated for November or December. On the same day, he engaged in extensive talks with Foreign Minister Lavrov, primarily focusing on enhancing trade and energy cooperation. Lavrov noted the positive outcomes of existing hydrocarbon agreements and proposed new joint energy projects in Russia’s resource-abundant Far East and Arctic regions.
The Minister underscored the long-standing nature of the India-Russia relationship, stating, “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 stressed that geopolitical convergence, leadership interactions, and public sentiment are crucial drivers of this enduring partnership.
This high-level diplomatic engagement occurs amid rising tensions between New Delhi and Washington. Under the administration of Donald Trump, the United States imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports in response to India’s continued import of discounted Russian crude oil, measures that India has deemed unfair and Russia has described as “neo-colonial.”
In response, Russian officials introduced a “very, very special mechanism” to ensure a steady oil supply to India, despite the looming threat of secondary sanctions. India has pushed back against U.S. criticisms, with Jaishankar expressing bewilderment at India being singled out, particularly as it is not the largest importer of Russian oil, while its imports from the U.S. have actually increased.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/world/indian-eam-jaishankar-meets-russian-president-putin-as-us-tariff-tensions-continue-to-bite-13926876.html
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Publish Date: 2025-08-21 20:52:00
