'PM Modi looks forward to welcoming you to India for BRICS Summit': Jaishankar meets Putin

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings, saying the Indian leader was looking forward to meeting him at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and subsequently welcoming him to India for the BRICS Summit.

During the meeting, Jaishankar also referred to the annual India-Russia summit, saying it could be held at a time convenient to both Modi and Putin. The interaction came amid continuing high-level engagement between New Delhi and Moscow and preparations for a series of meetings involving the two leaders.

Jaishankar told Putin that Modi was looking forward to their meeting at the SCO Summit and to receiving the Russian President in India for the BRICS gathering. India holds the BRICS chairmanship in 2026. The External Affairs Minister also conveyed Modi’s personal greetings to Putin and said the two countries had maintained strong political engagement while steadily expanding cooperation in several sectors.

Economic partnership expands

Economic ties figured prominently during the discussions, with Jaishankar pointing to the growing scale of cooperation between India and Russia. He said the bilateral relationship presented a strong picture of cooperation, particularly in trade, energy, fertilisers and nuclear energy. The two countries have been working to broaden their economic partnership and address issues that could facilitate further growth in trade and investment.

Jaishankar's meeting with Putin followed discussions under the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. The mechanism plays a key role in reviewing economic ties and identifying new areas for collaboration between the two countries.

The External Affairs Minister also held talks with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov during his Moscow visit, with the two sides reviewing trade and economic cooperation. Putin said commercial ties between the two countries were again showing growth after a slight decline during the previous year. He also highlighted the role of regular engagement between the leaderships of the two countries in sustaining the relationship.

Energy and fertilisers remain important pillars of bilateral trade, while civil nuclear cooperation and technology have also emerged as significant areas of engagement. Russia has indicated its willingness to increase fertiliser supplies to India as the two countries explore ways of widening their commercial relationship.

Diplomatic calendar gathers pace

The meeting assumes significance ahead of a busy diplomatic calendar involving Modi and Putin. The two leaders are expected to meet at the SCO Summit before Putin travels to India for the BRICS Summit. The annual India-Russia summit is also expected to provide another opportunity for the leaders to undertake a comprehensive review of the bilateral relationship.

India and Russia have continued regular political engagement despite changing geopolitical circumstances and the continuing Ukraine conflict. New Delhi has maintained that its relationship with Moscow is longstanding and has sought to pursue cooperation based on its strategic and economic interests. The two countries have also sought to diversify ties beyond their traditional defence relationship, with greater emphasis being placed on energy, trade, connectivity, investment, nuclear cooperation and emerging technologies.

Putin noted the longstanding nature of India-Russia relations and referred to cooperation through government, parliamentary and economic channels. Jaishankar’s Moscow visit comes as both sides prepare the ground for the forthcoming leadership-level meetings, which are expected to focus on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global developments. The BRICS Summit in India will be among the most prominent of these engagements, bringing Putin and other leaders of the grouping to New Delhi as India seeks to use its chairmanship to push issues concerning emerging economies and the Global South.