Jaishankar, Lavrov reaffirm India-Russia 'special, privileged' partnership at UN
Synopsis
Jaishankar and Lavrov met at UNGA and reaffirmed the 'special and privileged' India-Russia partnership — but neither side mentioned Ukraine. Days after Jaishankar met Kyiv's top diplomat, and weeks after Modi personally urged Putin to end the war, the silence on Ukraine in the Moscow readout speaks volumes about the careful choreography of India's multi-aligned diplomacy.
Key Takeaways
EAM S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met on Friday, 26 September 2026 on the sidelines of UNGA in New York .
Both sides reaffirmed the 'special and privileged' India-Russia Strategic Partnership and pledged coordination at the UN, G20, and BRICS .
Neither side explicitly mentioned the Ukraine War in their readouts, though Jaishankar cryptically referenced 'a number of ongoing issues.' PM Modi had urged Putin to end the Ukraine conflict at the SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan last month.
Jaishankar also met Ukraine FM Andrii Sybiha on Monday, where 'peace efforts' were discussed.
Putin has been invited by US President Trump to the G20 Summit in December , which Modi is also expected to attend.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, 26 September 2026, reaffirmed India and Russia's commitment to their 'special and privileged' strategic partnership on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, according to Moscow's foreign ministry. The two diplomats also pledged close coordination within multilateral forums including the UN, G20, and BRICS.
What Was Said
Russia's foreign ministry, in an official post on X following the meeting, stated: 'The sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the special and privileged Russia-India Strategic Partnership and close coordination at the UN, G20 and BRICS.'
Jaishankar, writing on X after the bilateral, said the two ministers 'exchanged views on a number of ongoing issues' and also 'took stock of our bilateral and BRICS cooperation.' The phrasing was notably measured — offering little detail on whether the Ukraine War featured in discussions, though the cryptic reference to 'ongoing issues' has drawn attention.
The Ukraine Backdrop
Conspicuously absent from both sides' readouts was any explicit mention of the war in Ukraine — a conflict that has cast a long shadow over India-Russia diplomatic optics. This comes just days after Jaishankar met Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday, after which Sybiha stated they had discussed 'peace efforts.' Jaishankar's own post after that meeting said they 'focused on developments over the past few weeks.'
Notably, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kyrgyzstan last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine War 'in the name of humanity.' India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy — not conflict — are the path forward.
The BRICS and G20 Threads
Lavrov had visited India earlier this month alongside Putin for the BRICS Summit, reinforcing the depth of bilateral engagement at the highest levels. Looking ahead, US President Donald Trump has invited Putin to the G20 Summit of industrialised and emerging economies in December, an event that Modi is also expected to attend — setting the stage for a potential three-way diplomatic moment.
India and Russia, as founding members of key multilateral blocs, have historically coordinated on issues ranging from reform of global financial institutions and technology transfer to the energy transition and climate financing.
India's Active UNGA Diplomatic Calendar
The Jaishankar-Lavrov meeting is one of several high-profile bilaterals that the External Affairs Minister has been conducting at UNGA this week. His engagements span multiple countries and are focused on strengthening partnerships, addressing global challenges such as climate change and terrorism, and reinforcing India's standing as a leading voice for the Global South.
The flurry of meetings — spanning Russia, Ukraine, and a host of other nations — underscores the tightrope India continues to walk as it pursues an autonomous, multi-aligned foreign policy in an increasingly polarised world.
Point of View
Jaishankar's meeting with Sybiha — yet the Lavrov bilateral produced only studied ambiguity. This is deliberate: India's strategic autonomy depends on keeping both Moscow and Kyiv, as well as Washington, engaged without alienating any. The upcoming G20 in December, where Trump, Modi, and possibly Putin may all be in the same room, will test whether India's balancing act can survive a more explicit reckoning with the war's terms.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jaishankar and Lavrov agree on at their UNGA meeting?
The two foreign ministers reaffirmed India and Russia's 'special and privileged' strategic partnership and pledged close coordination at the UN, G20, and BRICS, according to Moscow's foreign ministry. Jaishankar said they also exchanged views on 'a number of ongoing issues' and reviewed bilateral and BRICS cooperation.
Was the Ukraine War discussed in the Jaishankar-Lavrov meeting?
Neither the Russian foreign ministry nor EAM Jaishankar mentioned the Ukraine War explicitly in their post-meeting statements. However, Jaishankar's reference to 'ongoing issues' has been widely interpreted as potentially covering the conflict, given India's recent diplomatic activity on the matter.
What is India's current position on the Ukraine War?
India has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict. PM Modi directly urged President Putin at the SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan last month to end the Ukraine War 'in the name of humanity.' India has also engaged Kyiv's foreign minister on 'peace efforts.'
Who else did Jaishankar meet at UNGA this week?
Jaishankar met Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday, where peace efforts were discussed. He has held bilateral talks with counterparts from multiple countries as part of India's active diplomatic calendar at the UN General Assembly.
What is the significance of the upcoming G20 Summit in December?
The December G20 Summit is significant because US President Trump has invited Russia's President Putin to attend, and PM Modi is also expected to be present. It could create a rare diplomatic setting where India, Russia, and the US are in the same room amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
