New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar left for Russia on Tuesday on a three-day official visit. He will be attending the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) scheduled for Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said.
“At the invitation of First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov, the External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, will undertake an official visit to Russia on 19-21 August 2025 to co-chair the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) scheduled for 20 August 2025. EAM will address the India-Russia Business Forum meeting in Moscow,” the MEA said in a statement.
The minister’s visit comes at a time when US president Donald Trump announced higher tariffs on Indian imports earlier this month over its purchases of Russian crude, which he claimed was fueling Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
India and Russia have both spoken of the ‘strategic ties’ that exist between the two nations since then. A day after Trump announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Footage released by the Kremlin showed Putin shaking hands with Doval, though no details about what was discussed was provided. Doval had sounded enthusiastic after the meeting and said that Putin is set to visit India soon. The visit is expected to take place by the end of 2025.
“We are very excited and delighted to learn about the visit of President Putin to India. I think that the dates are almost finalised now,” Doval said.
On Monday, Putin called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him about the talks he had with Trump in Alaska.
“During the visit, the External Affairs Minister will also meet the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov and review the bilateral agenda and share perspective on regional and global issues. The visit aims to further strengthen the longstanding and time-tested India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” the EAM said. .
