EAM Jaishankar holds talks with President Putin on expanding India-Russia ties

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. The two leaders held detailed talks on strengthening cooperation between India and Russia. The meeting came just a few hours after Jaishankar also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, where both sides discussed a wide range of issues, mainly focusing on trade and economic cooperation.

Jaishankar’s three-day visit to Moscow highlights India’s effort to deepen its strategic relationship with Russia, even as global politics continues to shift. Both sides are looking at ways to expand cooperation in areas like energy, defence, technology, and trade.

During his talks, Jaishankar said that the relationship between India and Russia has remained one of the most stable and steady among the world’s major partnerships since the end of the Second World War. He explained that geopolitical understanding, regular communication between leaders, and strong public support for the friendship are the main reasons this bond has lasted so long.

Putin welcomed Jaishankar and noted the importance of India-Russia ties, which have been a foundation of cooperation for decades. The discussions are seen as a continuation of regular high-level contact between the two nations, keeping their partnership relevant in today’s rapidly changing global scenario.

India clarifies its position on Russian oil and trade

One of the important points Jaishankar addressed during his visit was about India’s trade with Russia, especially in the energy sector. Since 2022, after Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, India’s oil imports from Russia have drawn global attention. Many international observers assumed that India had become the largest buyer of Russian crude oil.

However, Jaishankar made it clear that this perception is not correct. Speaking at a joint press briefing with Lavrov, he said, “We are not the biggest purchaser of Russian oil. That is China. We are not the biggest purchaser of Russian LNG either. I believe that position belongs to the European Union.”

He also dismissed the idea that India has seen the largest surge in trade with Russia after 2022. According to him, there are other countries in the southern region that have seen bigger trade increases than India during this period.

Jaishankar also highlighted that India’s decision to buy oil from Russia was not something opposed by the United States. Instead, he suggested that Washington has, in fact, encouraged India to play a role in stabilising global energy markets. “We are a country where actually the Americans said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy markets, including buying oil from Russia,” he said.

This clarification was significant because India has often faced questions from Western nations about its growing energy trade with Russia. By stressing that India is neither the largest buyer nor the one with the biggest trade growth, Jaishankar aimed to put the discussion into perspective.

India-Russia friendship continues despite global changes

Jaishankar’s meetings with both Putin and Lavrov once again underlined India’s balancing act in foreign policy. On one hand, India maintains close ties with Western countries, including the United States and the European Union. On the other, it has chosen not to distance itself from Russia, a long-standing partner, despite global pressure following the Ukraine war.

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India and Russia continue to cooperate in defence, energy, nuclear power, and space technology. India’s purchase of Russian oil has also helped the country manage its domestic energy needs at affordable prices, which is a critical factor for a fast-growing economy like India.

The visit also highlighted the importance of leadership-level contact. Even though India and Russia face challenges in expanding trade due to sanctions and payment issues, the political will to keep the partnership alive remains strong. Jaishankar’s statement that India-Russia ties are among the “steadiest” relationships reflects this approach.

Going forward, both nations are expected to explore new areas of cooperation, including digital technology, education, and scientific research. The talks in Moscow are likely to set the stage for further meetings between the leaders of the two countries in the coming months.

In summary, Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow and his meeting with President Putin once again showed India’s intent to preserve and grow its ties with Russia. By addressing sensitive issues like oil trade openly and reinforcing the historic stability of the relationship, Jaishankar sent a strong message that India values its partnership with Russia while also balancing its global responsibilities.