External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Moscow next week for high-level talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, against the backdrop of recent strains in India-US relations over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil.
Jaishankar’s visit follows National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s recent trip to Russia, where he met President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials. The agenda is expected to include final preparations for Putin’s upcoming visit to India later this year.
According to Russia’s foreign ministry, the discussions will cover “the most important issues of the bilateral agenda”. Jaishankar is scheduled for a two-day visit, during which he is likely to call on Putin and co-chair the 26th India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific-Technological, and Cultural Cooperation alongside Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
India’s energy imports from Russia are expected to be a major focus. The US recently imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods—raising the total tariff to 50%—as a penalty for India’s continued Russian oil purchases. India has defended its stance, citing national interest and market dynamics.
Since Western sanctions on Moscow in 2022, Russia’s share in India’s oil imports has surged from 1.7% in 2019-20 to 35.1% in 2024-25, making it India’s largest oil supplier.
The two sides are also likely to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India has repeatedly called for peace through dialogue and diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during visits to Moscow in July last year and Kyiv a month later, urged both sides to engage directly to end the war.
