Jaishankar meets Putin, counters US tariffs, strengthens ties
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his Moscow visit, held detailed talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, emphasizing the need to enhance bilateral trade and safeguard their expanding energy partnership. Both leaders reviewed ongoing cooperation in critical sectors, including oil, gas, fertilizers, and nuclear energy, while reaffirming the importance of long-term stability in economic engagements. The discussions also addressed potential challenges arising from US sanctions and tariffs, with India stressing the necessity of protecting its national interests while deepening strategic ties with Russia.
NEW DELHI: In a firm diplomatic message amid intensifying US pressure, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, underscoring India’s intention to strengthen its longstanding strategic partnership with Russia. The meeting came at a time when Washington has been ramping up tariffs and warning New Delhi over its continued energy trade with Moscow, highlighting the complex balancing act India faces between its traditional ally and its deepening engagement with the West.
The high-profile meeting, held in the Kremlin, was part of ongoing efforts to finalise President Putin’s proposed year-end visit to India.
Speaking at a joint media briefing, Jaishankar pushed back against Western criticism of India’s imports of Russian oil and gas, offering a pointed reminder that New Delhi is hardly the biggest player in this market. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG, that is the European Union. His carefully chosen words sought to dispel the narrative that India’s trade with Russia was disproportionately driving Moscow’s economic resilience amid sanctions.
Jaishankar went on to highlight the durability of Indo-Russian ties over the decades. depth of trust that has underpinned cooperation in defence, energy, and strategic sectors.
Lavrov, in turn, underlined Moscow’s view of the partnership in the context of a shifting global order. “We see a special importance in our relations as we see the emergence of a new architecture of international relations,” he said, framing the partnership as one grounded not just in history, but in the evolving multipolar world that both nations publicly support.
The emphasis on shielding economic ties was also evident. On Wednesday, Russia’s embassy in New Delhi announced that a “special mechanism” had been activated to insulate bilateral energy trade from US sanctions. Russia’s Charge d’Affaires, Roman Babushkin, described Western pressure on India as “unjustified” and “neo-colonial,” a rare choice of words that reflected Moscow’s growing impatience with Washington’s attempts to influence New Delhi’s policy choices.
His comments came shortly after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent renewed warnings about possible secondary sanctions, in addition to the tariffs already imposed by the Trump administration. Such warnings are part of Washington’s larger strategy of curbing Moscow’s access to global energy markets. But for India, which remains heavily dependent on affordable imports to meet its domestic demand, the issue is less about geopolitics and more about ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens.
Jaishankar himself framed the partnership as resting on “geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment,” three pillars that have weathered both Cold War shifts and post-Cold War realignments.
Still, the visit was not without its points of contention. During his talks with Lavrov, Jaishankar raised India’s concerns over a widening trade deficit, non-tariff barriers, and regulatory hurdles that continue to restrict Indian exports to Russia. He also pressed Moscow on reports of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian army, an issue that has sparked unease in New Delhi.
The Moscow visit, therefore, reflected a mix of reassurance and realism. India signaled, once again, that it would not be dictated to by external powers on how it manages its partnerships. At the same time, New Delhi used the opportunity to convey its own priorities and concerns. In many ways, the tone of the visit reflected Jaishankar’s broader philosophy: engagement without hesitation, pragmatism without apology, and partnerships that serve India’s national interest first.