Jaishankar in Russia to Discuss Shielding Ties from US Actions
EAM S Jaishankar interacts with prominent scholars and think tank representatives of Russia in Moscow. (Image S Jaishankar, X)
India and Russia to discuss trade in national currencies, energy, defence, transport, and coordination in multilateral forums
By TRH global Affairs Desk
NEW DELHI, August 20, 2025 — The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will host India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Moscow on August 21 for high-level talks aimed at strengthening the India–Russia special privileged strategic partnership.
According to the Russian MFA, discussions will focus on deepening cooperation in political dialogue, defence, energy, agriculture, transport, and science and technology, alongside enhancing ties in finance and logistics. A key priority will be developing banking and settlement mechanisms using national currencies to shield bilateral trade from external pressures.
The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of the US slapping tariffs on India for buying oil from Russia. The statement of the Russian MFA suggested that the discussions will take stock of the situations emerging out of the US tariffs on India, and way forward to protect bilateral trades against disruptive actions of Washington.
The US yesterday said officially that Washington slapped tariffs on India to stop the Ukraine War. But experts have argued that the US singled out India even while China is the top buyer of oil from Russia.
“The two ministers will also review upcoming high-level exchanges and coordinate positions on major global issues, including Ukraine, Afghanistan, the Asia-Pacific security architecture, and the Israeli Palestinian conflict,” said the Russian MFA in its statement.
Multilateral cooperation will be another focal point, with both sides expected to align strategies within the UN, BRICS, SCO, and G20. Moscow emphasized that India and Russia share a commitment to multipolarity and a just world order, underpinned by “mutual trust and respect.”
The meeting comes as both countries seek to expand transport and logistics corridors, strengthen energy cooperation, and enhance cultural and scientific collaboration, while jointly shaping responses to shifting geopolitical and economic landscapes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been in regular contact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin had phoned the Prime Minister after meeting the US envoy Steve Witkoff, and also after he held the Alaska Summit with US President Donald Trump.
Incidentally, some of the former associates of Trump have been arguing that the US should enforce steps to make it impossible for Russia to do banking settlements if Putin does not agree to stop the Ukraine War. India has stood grounds with Russia even in the face of a massive tariffs imposed by the US for doing trades with Russia.
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