Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is set to visit Russia on March 7 for the annual foreign office consultations, aiming to strengthen India-Russia relations and discuss key global and regional issues, sources confirmed on Tuesday.

During his visit, Misri will meet senior Russian officials to review the overall bilateral partnership, with a focus on trade, investment, energy cooperation, and geopolitical developments.

A key agenda item is expected to be the impact of new Western sanctions on Russia and their potential effects on India’s energy ties with Moscow. Discussions may also cover efforts to balance trade, as India seeks greater access to Russian markets to address the current trade imbalance. In 2023, India and Russia set a bilateral trade target of $100 billion by 2030, with current trade standing at approximately $66 billion, largely in Russia’s favor due to India’s increased crude oil imports.

The visit comes amid heightened global focus on the Ukraine conflict following recent tensions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia is likely to brief India on its latest diplomatic efforts regarding the war, especially after Trump’s shift in approach toward Russia and European security guarantees.

Additionally, the issue of Indian nationals serving in the Russian military is expected to be discussed. In January, India reported that 12 Indian nationals had died while serving with Russian forces, with 16 others listed as missing. New Delhi has been working with Moscow to facilitate their safe discharge.

Misri’s visit follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s trip to Russia nearly three months ago. It underscores India’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Moscow amid shifting global dynamics.