During his meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that the relationship between India and Russia is not only "very strong, very steady" but also characterized by a special and privileged strategic partnership. The minister, who is currently on a five-day visit to Russia, highlighted the frequent communication between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin. He expressed satisfaction with the consistent and robust nature of the bilateral ties, describing the meeting as the seventh this year and noting additional interactions through forums like G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN, and BRICS.Jaishankar outlined the agenda for the meeting, which included discussions on bilateral cooperation across various domains, adjusting to evolving circumstances, and addressing international strategic situations, conflicts, and tensions. He stressed the importance of focusing on the developmental challenges faced by the Global South and reaffirmed the commitment to multilateralism and the establishment of a multipolar world order.The minister acknowledged diverse expressions of cooperation in the ongoing year, citing events such as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Far Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, and the India-Russia intergovernmental commission co-chaired with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. He expressed satisfaction with the progress and anticipated strong Russian participation at the Vibrant Gujarat meeting in January.Sergey Lavrov, in response, echoed the sentiment of the enduring and positive relations between India and Russia, describing the bilateral ties as both long-standing and promising. He appreciated the consistent advancement of the relationship.During his visit, Jaishankar had a comprehensive meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Manturov, focusing on bilateral economic cooperation. Notably, agreements related to the construction of future power-generating units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu were signed during this meeting. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the stability and resilience of the India-Russia partnership, emphasizing its time-tested nature and characterizing it as a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. The enduring strength of ties persists despite the geopolitical backdrop, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and India's stance on the matter, which advocates diplomatic resolution and dialogue. Additionally, India's increased import of Russian crude oil has drawn attention amid concerns in Western countries.
