New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Moscow, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and regional security.
Jaishankar conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed preparations for the upcoming India-Russia annual summit scheduled for early December.
In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, “Honoured to meet President Putin in Moscow. Conveyed PM Modi’s greetings and reviewed preparations for the annual summit. Appreciated his insights on global developments and regional issues.”
The meeting also touched upon energy cooperation, trade, and geopolitical challenges.
Earlier, addressing SCO leaders, Jaishankar delivered a strong message on terrorism, urging member states to adopt a zero-tolerance approach. “The world must not justify or ignore terrorism in any form. There can be no compromise or cover-up,” he said, in the presence of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. His remarks underscored India’s long-standing concerns over cross-border terrorism and its impact on regional stability.
The SCO summit saw participation from leaders of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. Jaishankar also held separate meetings with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and leaders from Mongolia and Qatar, thanking Russia for hosting the event.
Putin’s visit to India for the 23rd annual summit is expected to focus on defence, energy, and strategic cooperation, marking a crucial phase in Indo-Russian relations amid global geopolitical shifts.