Moscow, November 17, 2025 – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow today, reaffirming the strength and stability of the India-Russia strategic partnership. The meeting, held in advance of President Vladimir Putin's expected visit to New Delhi early next month, covered a wide array of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
Jaishankar, who is in Moscow to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting, emphasized that the India-Russia relationship has been and remains a "factor of stability in international relations". He highlighted that the growth and evolution of this partnership is not only in the mutual interest of both nations but also in the interest of the world. Lavrov echoed this sentiment, calling the meeting "timely" and underscoring that relations with India remain a top priority in Russia's foreign policy.
Discussions between the two ministers included cooperation within the SCO, BRICS, the UN, and the G20. They also exchanged views on complex global matters, including the Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Middle East, and developments in Afghanistan. Jaishankar reiterated India's support for recent efforts toward establishing peace in these regions, expressing hope that all parties involved would approach the goal constructively. He stated that an early cessation of conflict and the assurance of enduring peace are in the interest of the entire international community.
Both sides are working towards finalizing a number of bilateral agreements, initiatives, and projects across various fields in anticipation of President Putin's visit. These efforts are expected to add further substance to the "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" between India and Russia. The ministers reviewed progress on these agreements and initiatives, with the aim of solidifying them before the summit expected around December 5.
The long-standing relationship between India and Russia is underpinned by shared values, including anti-colonialism and mutual non-interference in the affairs of other countries. This has manifested in mutual support at the United Nations and a strong strategic alignment.
Economic ties between the two countries have also seen significant growth. Bilateral trade reached a record high of $68.7 billion in FY2024-25, nearly 5.8 times higher than pre-pandemic levels. Both governments have jointly developed an economic strategy that involves using a number of economic components to increase future bilateral trade. The leaders of the two countries have confirmed the goal of increasing the bilateral investment volume to $50 billion by 2025.
President Putin's last visit to New Delhi was in 2021. This year's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to further strengthen the "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" between the two countries. India and Russia hold annual summit talks under a mechanism that has been in place for a long time. So far, 22 such meetings have taken place, alternating between the two countries.
On Tuesday, Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Modi at the SCO meeting of the Council of Heads of Government, where President Putin is also expected to speak.
