External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Monday for a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and upcoming political engagements.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the meeting in a post on X on Friday, stating that the Ministers will discuss “upcoming political contacts” along with key bilateral and international issues.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Jaishankar will arrive in Moscow leading the Indian delegation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting, scheduled for November 17–18.
She said the talks between Jaishankar and Lavrov will assess the current state of India–Russia relations and outline future areas of political cooperation. The two Ministers will also exchange views on major international and regional developments, including collaboration within the SCO, BRICS, the UN, and the G20.
Jaishankar last visited Russia from August 19–21, 2025, to co-chair the 26th Session of the India–Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). During that visit, he called on Russian President Vladimir Putin and held meetings with Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Foreign Minister Lavrov. He also interacted with prominent scholars and think tanks.
In October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with President Putin to review progress in the bilateral agenda. During the conversation, PM Modi conveyed birthday greetings to the Russian leader and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation. He also expressed that he looked forward to welcoming President Putin to India in for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.
The two leaders last met in September on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, where they discussed regional and global developments, including the situation in Ukraine, and reiterated their support for deepening bilateral ties.
(IANS)