Jaishankar meets Putin in Moscow, delivers Modi's personal message
Synopsis
EAM Jaishankar's Moscow visit was more than a diplomatic courtesy call — it carried a personal message from PM Modi to Putin, came with a detailed bilateral commission review, and set the table for a potential Modi-Putin meeting at the SCO Summit. With trade turnover rising and fertiliser supplies on the agenda, India-Russia ties are deepening even as New Delhi navigates complex global alignments.
Key Takeaways
EAM S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 24 August and delivered a 'personal message' from PM Narendra Modi .
Putin noted that India-Russia bilateral trade turnover has grown this year after a slight decline last year, crediting PM Modi's personal attention.
Jaishankar co-chaired the 27th IRIGC-TEC session with Russia's First Deputy PM Denis Manturov , covering energy, fertilisers, nuclear cooperation, and high-tech sectors.
Putin expressed hope to meet Modi at the upcoming SCO Summit and potentially again at the BRICS Summit in India .
Russia reiterated its commitment to increasing fertiliser supplies to India, calling it a priority for Indian agriculture.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, 24 August, and handed over a 'personal message' from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signalling the continued warmth in India-Russia ties at the highest levels of government.
What Jaishankar Said
'Pleased to call on President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Moscow today. Handed over a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' Jaishankar said in a post on X after the meeting. He added that he briefed Putin on deliberations held under the 27th IRIGC-TEC, covering cooperation across a wide range of domains, and that the two also discussed 'regional and global issues of importance.'
Putin's Remarks: Trade Growth and a Message for Modi
According to a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin said Jaishankar's visit 'underscores the level of relations that has long been established between Russia and India, over decades.' The Russian President noted that bilateral trade turnover has grown this year after a slight dip last year, attributing the recovery in part to Modi's personal attention to the relationship. 'I would like to ask you to convey my best wishes to Mr Modi. I hope to see him soon, as we planned, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,' Putin said, adding that the two leaders could potentially meet again within the year.
IRIGC-TEC Session: Energy, Fertilisers, and High-Tech Cooperation
Ahead of the Putin meeting, Jaishankar co-chaired the 27th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) alongside Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. Putin highlighted fertiliser supplies as a key agenda item, stating that Russia is 'doing everything to address this issue for Indian farmers' and is ready to increase supplies further. Nuclear energy cooperation and collaboration in high-tech sectors were also flagged as areas of steady progress.
SCO and BRICS: What Comes Next
Jaishankar conveyed that Prime Minister Modi is looking forward to meeting Putin at the upcoming SCO Summit and also hopes Putin will attend the BRICS Summit in India. 'Our economic cooperation has grown significantly. We truly have a strong, robust bilateral partnership,' Jaishankar said during the meeting. The diplomatic exchange sets the stage for what could be multiple high-level engagements between the two nations before the year's end.
This visit comes amid ongoing global attention on India's foreign policy balancing act — maintaining strategic autonomy while deepening ties with both Russia and Western partners.
Point of View
Weeks ahead of the SCO Summit — are deliberate. India is signalling that its Russia relationship remains insulated from Western pressure, even as it deepens defence and trade ties with the US and Europe. What is often missed in coverage of such visits is the granular economic content: fertiliser supply guarantees and nuclear cooperation are not symbolic — they directly affect Indian agriculture and energy security. The real test will be whether the trade growth Putin cited is sustainable or driven primarily by discounted Russian oil, a dynamic that leaves India structurally exposed to any shift in Russian supply policy.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did EAM Jaishankar visit Moscow on 24 August?
Jaishankar visited Moscow to co-chair the 27th IRIGC-TEC session with Russian First Deputy PM Denis Manturov and subsequently met President Putin, to whom he delivered a personal message from PM Modi. The visit covered bilateral cooperation across trade, energy, fertilisers, and high-tech sectors.
What was the 'personal message' from PM Modi to Putin about?
The contents of the message were not disclosed publicly. Jaishankar confirmed he handed it over during his meeting with Putin in Moscow on 24 August, and separately noted that Modi is looking forward to meeting Putin at the SCO Summit.
What did Putin say about India-Russia trade?
Putin stated that bilateral trade turnover has increased this year after a slight decline last year, attributing the recovery in part to PM Modi's personal attention to developing Russian-Indian relations. He also flagged fertiliser supplies, nuclear energy, and high-tech cooperation as key areas of ongoing progress.
When could Modi and Putin meet next?
Putin expressed hope to meet Modi at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, noting their schedules could allow for another meeting within the year. Jaishankar also conveyed that Modi hopes Putin will attend the BRICS Summit in India.
What is the IRIGC-TEC and what was discussed?
The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) is a bilateral mechanism for reviewing cooperation across multiple domains. The 27th session, co-chaired by Jaishankar and Manturov, covered economic cooperation, nuclear energy, fertiliser supplies, and high-tech sectors.
