Jaishankar’s Kremlin meeting sets stage for Vladimir Putin’s year-end visit to India

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met Russian President Vladimir Putin

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday, updating him on the preparations underway for the upcoming annual India-Russia summit.

Putin welcomed Jaishankar with a handshake at the Representative Office of the Senate Palace, according to state-run TASS. “Honoured to call on President Putin of Russia in Moscow today. Conveyed greetings of Prime Minister @narendramodi,” Jaishankar said on social media.

“Apprised him of preparations underway for the upcoming Annual India Russia Summit. Also discussed regional and global developments. Deeply value his perspectives and guidance on further advancement of our ties,” he added.

Kremlin visuals showed Putin greeting Jaishankar, who was accompanied by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and Joint Secretary Mayank Singh. The Russian side included Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko.

The meeting comes ahead of Putin’s planned year-end trip to India, where he is expected to arrive around December 5 for summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Monday, Jaishankar held wide-ranging discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as both sides prepare for the 23rd annual summit.

Earlier, Jaishankar had called on President Putin along with other heads of delegation of SCO member states. Putin met him after his interactions with representatives of all SCO countries. That meeting was also attended by Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, Belarus PM Alexander Turchin, Kazakhstan PM Oljas Bektenov, Kyrgyzstan PM Adylbek Kasymaliyev, Tajikistan PM Kokhir Rasulzoda, Uzbekistan PM Abdulla Aripov, Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev.

On the sidelines of the SCO gathering, Jaishankar also met Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojavyn Zandanshatar and Qatar’s PM/Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. He thanked Russian PM Mishustin for hosting the SCO Heads of Government meeting and appreciated his hospitality.

*With Agency Inputs