During a two-day visit to Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his desire to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon. This sentiment was conveyed while he hosted India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Kremlin. Putin extended his best wishes to Modi through Jaishankar, indicating that their next meeting might occur in conjunction with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Additionally, Putin is expected to travel to New Delhi for the BRICS leaders’ summit scheduled for September.
Putin underscored the importance of the growing trade relations between Russia and India, pointing out that Russia has been increasing its fertiliser supplies to India and is prepared to expand them further. This statement highlights the strengthening economic ties between the two nations amidst ongoing geopolitical shifts.
Prior to meeting Putin, Jaishankar engaged in discussions with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. Their talks focused on enhancing bilateral trade and economic collaboration. Manturov mentioned the possibility of Russia localizing nuclear fuel production in India, which could signify a new chapter in the countries’ partnership in the energy sector.
As part of his visit, Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Their discussions are expected to cover various aspects of bilateral relations, as well as regional and global developments, reflecting the broad scope of cooperation and dialogue between India and Russia.