New Delhi/Moscow: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and conveyed a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India and Russia reviewed their broad-based strategic partnership ahead of the upcoming BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
During the meeting, Jaishankar briefed President Putin on the deliberations of the 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) and reviewed bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors. He also sought Putin’s guidance on taking the partnership forward.
The two sides also exchanged views on important regional and global developments, including issues of relevance to multilateral forums.
BRICS Summit and Putin’s expected India visit in focus
The Jaishankar-Putin meeting assumes significance ahead of the BRICS Summit 2026, which India is expected to host in New Delhi. Diplomatic sources indicate that discussions in Moscow also touched upon issues likely to figure prominently during the BRICS deliberations.
President Putin is expected to visit India for the BRICS Summit, providing an opportunity for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Russian President to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the gathering.
The Modi-Putin meeting could assume particular importance as both countries look to further strengthen their long-standing strategic partnership. The two leaders are expected to review bilateral cooperation as well as major regional and international developments, with the possibility of announcing new initiatives or agreements aimed at taking India-Russia relations into their next phase.
Jaishankar holds talks with Lavrov
Before meeting President Putin, Jaishankar held a wide-ranging discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The talks covered the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation, along with regional hotspots, global challenges and multilateral issues.
The meeting with Lavrov followed the 27th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission, which was co-chaired by Jaishankar and First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov.
Trade, energy, nuclear cooperation and technology on agenda
The IRIGC-TEC meeting reviewed India-Russia cooperation in several strategic and economic areas, including trade, investment, energy, fertilizers, nuclear cooperation, connectivity, technology, space and mobility.
Jaishankar stressed that as the economic relationship enters a new phase, both countries need to place greater emphasis on implementation, measurable outcomes and sector-specific deliverables.
He also underlined the importance of closer engagement with businesses by aligning institutional mechanisms with industry priorities, identifying practical bottlenecks and making policy responses more effective.
Both sides also discussed the need to continuously identify new economic opportunities, deepen complementarities and address the challenges of de-risking and diversification amid changes in global supply chains and the international economic environment.
India-Russia partnership enters a new phase
The latest high-level engagements in Moscow highlight the continued importance attached by both countries to their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
With cooperation extending from traditional areas such as defence, energy and nuclear technology to trade, connectivity, space, emerging technologies and mobility, India and Russia are seeking to broaden the economic foundation of their relationship.
Jaishankar expressed confidence that the discussions in Moscow would contribute to deepening practical cooperation across multiple sectors, while the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi is expected to provide another important platform for Modi and Putin to discuss bilateral, regional and global priorities.