India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held crucial bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ahead of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting, with discussions centered on the West Asia crisis, the Ukraine war, and strengthening a multipolar global order. Welcoming Lavrov to India, Jaishankar highlighted the “steady and sustained growth” in the India-Russia strategic partnership, emphasizing expanding cooperation in energy, trade, science & technology, talent mobility, and connectivity. He stressed that political cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow has become even more critical amid an “uncertain and volatile global environment.” Lavrov praised the progress in bilateral ties, noting that India-Russia trade has reached nearly $60 billion, with both nations targeting $100 billion by 2030. He also underlined cooperation across global platforms including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the United Nations, and the G20.