Jaishankar meets Putin in Moscow, flags $50 billion trade deficit
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar handed over a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reviewed economic cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trade, energy, fertilisers and nuclear ties were on the agenda.
Moscow1 min read
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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday and conveyed a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The meeting followed the 27th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. Jaishankar co-chaired that session with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
Jaishankar told Putin that economic cooperation had grown very significantly, covering trade, energy, fertilisers, nuclear and other areas. He also flagged the widening trade deficit, which has risen from $6.6 billion to more than $50 billion, as one of India’s foremost priorities.
Putin said Russia was increasing fertiliser supplies to meet the needs of Indian farmers and stood ready to continue doing so. He noted that trade was rising again after a slight decline in 2025 and asked Jaishankar to convey his best wishes to Modi.
Both sides looked ahead to meetings between Modi and Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and at the BRICS summit in New Delhi on 12-13 September. Jaishankar said Modi looked forward to welcoming Putin to India for the BRICS event and to an annual summit at a mutually convenient time.
The visit underscores the resilience of the India-Russia partnership amid shifting global pressures on energy and trade routes.
