EAM Jaishankar–Lavrov talks in Moscow today: what to expect from the agenda ahead of Putin's India visit

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow today, November 17 for a key round of discussions covering bilateral ties, political coordination and major regional developments. The meeting is taking place as New Delhi and Moscow prepare for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned visit to India in early December.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that “negotiations will be held in Moscow” between the two ministers, signalling a substantive engagement at a time when both countries are reviewing ongoing projects, future cooperation and geopolitical developments across multiple regions.

Jaishankar is in Moscow leading the Indian delegation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting, scheduled to be hosted by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on November 18.

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What will shape today’s agenda?

Officials said the discussions will include preparations for the 23rd annual India–Russia summit, where trade, energy, defence, logistics and connectivity are expected to feature prominently. Putin last visited India in 2021, and the upcoming summit is being seen as an important opportunity to reset priorities amid shifting global dynamics.

Cooperation under the SCO, BRICS, the United Nations and the G20 is expected to be part of the talks, with both sides likely to align positions on key multilateral issues.

The two ministers will also review progress on earlier commitments, including the opening of two new Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg, aimed at deepening regional connectivity and expanding India’s commercial footprint across Russia.

India–Russia economic partnership under focus

Trade diversification, supply-chain resilience, tariff issues and payments have remained central to recent India–Russia dialogues. President Putin had recently asked his government to examine proposals to strengthen trade mechanisms and address imbalances in bilateral trade.

Both sides are working on widening the export basket and improving predictability for Indian companies as the two economies look to tap new sectors ranging from machinery to critical minerals.

The meeting will also review the progress of the India–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. During Jaishankar’s visit in August, both sides had discussed ways to speed up negotiations and remove procedural bottlenecks.

Security, regional issues and global developments

Today’s meeting is also expected to include a detailed review of regional situations, including developments in Ukraine, West Asia and Afghanistan. India has maintained that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential for de-escalation.

New Delhi is also expected to raise ongoing concerns about Indian nationals recruited into the Russian army. The Ministry of External Affairs recently confirmed that at least 44 Indians are currently serving, and India has asked Moscow to facilitate their release and halt further recruitment.

Continuity in ties ahead of high-level visit

Jaishankar last met Lavrov in August during the 26th Inter-Governmental Commission meeting in Moscow, where they undertook a comprehensive review of political, defence, economic and connectivity cooperation. During that trip, Jaishankar also met President Putin.

Officials said today’s meeting continues the momentum of that engagement, reinforcing the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” established between the two countries in 2010.