Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his anticipation of an upcoming meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to the Kremlin. Jaishankar was in Moscow for a two-day visit, during which Putin conveyed his best wishes to Modi and expressed a desire for their next encounter to coincide with an event related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Additionally, Putin is scheduled to travel to New Delhi for the BRICS leaders’ summit in September.
Highlighting the strengthening economic ties between Russia and India, Putin noted an increase in trade between the two nations. He emphasized Russia’s efforts to boost fertilizer exports to India, expressing readiness to further expand these supplies. This growing trade relationship was a focal point of discussions during Jaishankar’s visit.
In a meeting with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Jaishankar discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Manturov introduced the possibility of Russia localizing nuclear fuel production within India, marking a potential area for expanded collaboration.
Jaishankar’s itinerary in Moscow also included a scheduled meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. During this engagement, the two officials were expected to delve into discussions on bilateral relations as well as various regional and global issues, reflecting the broad scope of India-Russia diplomatic dialogue.