New Delhi — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described India-Russia ties as among the “steadiest big relationships” in the world over the past 78 years, and said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent two-day state visit helped “reimagine” the partnership by adding new economic dimensions.
Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2025, Jaishankar said the visit addressed long-standing imbalances in the bilateral relationship. He noted defence and energy links have remained robust, while the economic dimension lagged—partly because Russia traditionally oriented its economic ties more toward the West and China.
“In any relationship some aspects develop faster than others,” he said, adding that the summit and the visit aimed to build the facets the partnership had lacked. Popular sentiment toward Russia, he added, remains an important factor in the relationship.
On India’s broader foreign policy, Jaishankar stressed the need to strengthen key relationships with major global players while preserving “freedom of choice.” For a large, rising country, he said, it is crucial that core relationships are well maintained so India can optimise its position and cooperate with multiple important partners.
Responding to suggestions that Putin’s visit was meant as a signal to Western capitals, Jaishankar dismissed the idea, saying the focus was on what New Delhi and Moscow wanted to convey to one another.
He highlighted concrete outcomes from the visit: a mobility agreement to expand work opportunities for Indians in Russia, and a joint venture on fertilisers designed to bolster India’s food security. “One is the mobility agreement, where Indians would now much more seamlessly find more work opportunities in Russia, and understanding on the joint venture on fertilisers,” Jaishankar said.
The joint statement following the 23rd India-Russia Summit welcomed agreements to facilitate the mobility of skilled workers and signalled an expanded partnership in education, science and research. Both countries expressed interest in enhancing academic mobility, launching joint educational programmes, conducting collaborative research projects, and organising specialised exhibitions, conferences and seminars to promote knowledge exchange.
On agriculture and fertilisers, the two sides agreed measures to secure long-term supplies to India and discussed joint ventures supported by a new MoU involving JSC UralChem, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited, National Fertilisers Limited, and Indian Potash Limited.
Jaishankar said there was substantial focus on elevating the overall relationship. The comments came a day after President Putin concluded his two-day state visit to India—his first in four years—an event seen as an important step in strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
