Jaishankar to Visit Russia on August 21; Bilateral Talks with Lavrov Amid US-Russia Oil Trade Dispute

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National News : Amid growing tensions between Washington and Moscow over Russia’s oil exports, India is set to deepen its diplomatic engagement with Russia. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Moscow on August 21 for high-level talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement posted on social media platform X.

According to the announcement, the meeting will focus on “key issues on our bilateral agenda as well as important aspects of cooperation within the international framework.” This signals that discussions will not be limited to trade, but will also address geopolitical and multilateral matters affecting both nations.

The visit comes at a sensitive time when the global oil market is under strain due to Western sanctions on Russia and the resulting shifts in global supply chains. India, which has significantly increased its purchase of Russian crude since the Ukraine conflict began, has faced scrutiny from the United States and its allies for maintaining energy ties with Moscow.

Doval’s Strategic Engagement in Moscow

Jaishankar’s trip follows closely on the heels of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s two-day visit to Russia last week. During his stay, Doval met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. The discussions reportedly revolved around enhancing cooperation in energy security, defense production, and long-term strategic projects.

Doval’s talks with Shoigu covered military-to-military cooperation, joint defense manufacturing initiatives, and technology sharing. Meanwhile, his meeting with President Putin served as a reaffirmation of the long-standing India-Russia strategic partnership. Importantly, Doval confirmed that President Putin will visit India by the end of 2025, a trip expected to include the signing of major agreements in energy and defense.

Significance of the Visit

Jaishankar’s Moscow trip is expected to cover multiple fronts—ensuring the uninterrupted flow of energy supplies from Russia, enhancing defense cooperation, and exploring new areas of collaboration in technology, space, and trade. The leaders are also likely to coordinate positions on issues such as BRICS expansion, the Ukraine conflict, and reform of global governance institutions like the UN.

India’s balancing act in the ongoing global geopolitical landscape has made these visits highly significant. On one hand, New Delhi is a member of the Quad grouping with the US, Japan, and Australia, aimed at countering China’s growing influence. On the other, it continues to maintain and expand its historical ties with Russia, a country that has been a key defense and energy partner for decades.

With back-to-back high-level visits by Doval and Jaishankar, it is evident that India is reinforcing its strategic outreach to Moscow, ensuring that bilateral relations remain strong despite external pressures and shifting global alliances.

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