External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, conveying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings and briefing him on preparations for the upcoming India–Russia annual summit. The meeting, held amid SCO engagements, covered regional and global developments and underscored momentum in bilateral ties ahead of a likely early-December summit date.
The meeting at a glance
Jaishankar called on President Putin at the Kremlin, where he conveyed PM Modi’s greetings and outlined preparations for the annual India–Russia summit. Jaishankar said discussions spanned regional and global developments and he valued Putin’s perspectives on advancing ties, signaling continuity and depth in the partnership’s diplomatic track.
Key highlights
Summit prep front and center:
Jaishankar briefed Putin on the status of preparations for the annual bilateral summit, indicating timelines and agenda-setting are progressing.
Personal greetings from New Delhi:
The minister formally conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings to the Russian president, a customary signal of leader-level engagement ahead of the summit.
Regional and global sweep:
Discussions touched on broader geopolitical developments, reflecting India–Russia consultations across security and economic domains as the summit nears.
SCO backdrop and Lavrov talks:
The Putin meeting occurred alongside heads-of-delegation engagements related to the SCO, following Jaishankar’s separate talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
Venue details and protocol:
Putin welcomed Jaishankar at the Representative Office of the Senate Palace within the Kremlin complex, as noted by Russian state media.
What this signals for the summit
The engagement suggests a steady track toward leader-level talks, with groundwork aligning diplomatic, economic, and security priorities. By tying the meeting to SCO discussions and prior consultations with Lavrov, New Delhi and Moscow appear to be synchronizing platforms and timelines—aiming for a focused agenda and clear deliverables at the annual summit.
Why it matters now
Regular high-level contact helps maintain predictability in a complex geopolitical landscape. With summit preparations acknowledged at the highest level, both sides are setting expectations for outcomes that could reinforce institutional mechanisms, expand trade conversations, and update strategic understandings—framing the next phase of the relationship’s practical cooperation.
Sources: India TV News, Firstpost