Jaishankar lands in Moscow, to meet Lavrov, First Dy PM Manturov

The phone call between Modi and Putin – their second conversation in 10 days – was significant in the backdrop of the tension in ties with the US after Trump doubled the tariff on India over its purchase of Russian oil. On August 8, Modi and Putin held a phone conversation during which they discussed “the latest developments on Ukraine” and reaffirmed their “commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, “At the invitation of First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov, the External Affairs Minister, 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.”

He will also address the India-Russia Business Forum meeting in Moscow.

During the visit, the External Affairs Minister will meet Lavrov and “review the bilateral agenda and share perspective on regional and global issues”.

It said that the visit aims to further “strengthen the longstanding and time-tested India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”.

The timing of the visit is important at a time when the India-Russia ties have been the focus of the Trump administration. The US administration, led by US President Donald Trump, has imposed 25 per cent tariffs as penalty on India for buying Russian oil. Earlier this month, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also travelled to Moscow and met Putin.

Senior American officials, including Peter Navarro, who is White House advisor on trade, and Cabinet ministers, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have attacked India for buying Russian oil.

While India is hoping for a reprieve from the Trump administration after the Alaska summit, its outreach to Moscow needs to be seen in the context of its multi-alignment policy and its legacy defence partnership.

New Delhi views Moscow as a robust and reliable partner, in the face of uncertainties faced from the US and assertiveness from China. And that has been the foundation of Delhi’s partnership with Russia over the decades.

The two sides have maintained regular contact, and now Prime Minister Modi is likely to meet President Putin on the sidelines of the SCO leaders’ summit in Tianjin in China from August 31 to September 1. Sources said there are also discussions for a visit by Russian President Putin to India later this year.