India's Jaishankar Visits Moscow Amid US Tariff Threats

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will conduct a two-day official visit to Moscow on August 23-24, 2026. He will co-chair the 27th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation alongside Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. The visit includes scheduled meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss global issues, including the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Gulf region.

The diplomatic engagement occurs as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened 100 percent secondary tariffs on nations importing oil, gas, and uranium from Russia. While India previously lowered its Russian oil imports to negotiate a trade deal with Washington, its dependence on Russian crude surged to a record 50.83 percent of total imports in July following conflicts in the Middle East.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised India's economic and technological success. The visit is framed within the India-Russia Strategic Partnership established in 2000, which seeks to maintain a multipolar world and strengthen bilateral ties in science, technology, and trade.