External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, with both sides reaffirming the resilience of their partnership in a rapidly changing global order. Jaishankar’s latest visit to Russia underscored New Delhi’s intent to deepen a relationship that has weathered decades of global upheavals.
Jaishankar described the partnership as one of the most stable and time-tested in the post-World War II era, while Lavrov called it a “special strategic partnership” anchored in trust and mutual benefit.
🔴 #LIVE: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov and Minister of External Affairs of India Dr.Subrahmanyam #Jaishankar commence talks in Moscow
🇷🇺🤝🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/xT2isx4c0j— Russia in India 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbIndia) August 21, 2025
Addressing a joint press briefing, Jaishankar said India and Russia have remained “the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War.” He stressed that the shared goal is to “maximise the complementarity” of bilateral ties amid evolving geopolitical and economic challenges.
“Our defence and military-technical cooperation remains robust. Russia continues to support India’s ‘Make in India’ programme through joint production and technology transfer,” he noted.
Speaking to the press alongside FM Sergey Lavrov in Moscow today.
🇮🇳 🇷🇺
https://t.co/FCCxQkNnYI— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 21, 2025
Lavrov echoed this sentiment, calling the India-Russia relationship a “special strategic partnership” rooted in decades of trust and guided by the two nations’ leadership. He situated the partnership within the framework of a multipolar world order, pointing to the growing importance of platforms such as the SCO, BRICS, G20, and the United Nations.
Jaishankar’s visit followed trade and economic discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. He described his meeting with Lavrov as an opportunity to review the entire spectrum of ties, from politics and defence to investment, science, and cultural exchange.
The External Affairs Minister highlighted India’s active engagement with Russia, citing recent visits by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, IT and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery as evidence of the depth of cooperation.
The dialogue comes at a sensitive moment globally. New Delhi faces concerns over US tariffs that have doubled to 50% on several Indian goods, as well as fresh duties on crude oil purchases from Russia. Against this backdrop, both Jaishankar and Lavrov stressed the importance of “balanced approaches” and reinforced their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties despite external pressures.
