External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar engaged with members of the Indian community in Moscow on Wednesday as he concluded his Russia visit for the SCO meeting. Joined by India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, the minister met diaspora members and friends of India during an interactive session. “Nice to interact with members of the Indian community and friends of India in Moscow,” he shared in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar inaugurated two new Indian Consulates — in Yekaterinburg and Kazan — a move aimed at strengthening India-Russia ties across multiple sectors. He noted that the new consular facilities will help expand cooperation in trade, tourism, scientific research, technological innovation, academic exchanges, and cultural partnerships. The inauguration ceremony was held alongside Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Ambassador Vinay Kumar, and regional representatives from Sverdlovsk and Tatarstan.

During his Moscow visit, the EAM also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing that the global relevance of Gandhi’s values and teachings has only grown in today’s world.

In addition to diplomatic engagements, Jaishankar held a key meeting with Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, where the two leaders reviewed progress made since their last discussion at the 26th IRIGC-TEC meeting in August 2025. They also evaluated preparations for the upcoming India-Russia Annual Summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi next month. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India in December for the 23rd Annual Summit—his first visit to the country since 2021.

On Tuesday, Jaishankar met President Putin in Moscow, conveying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings. He briefed the Russian leader on summit preparations and discussed major regional and global developments. “Deeply value his perspectives and guidance on further advancement of our ties,” Jaishankar said.

On Monday, Jaishankar held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with discussions centered on bilateral cooperation and multilateral coordination. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a just, multipolar world order and agreed to enhance joint work across global platforms including the UN, SCO, BRICS, and G20.

The visit underscores India and Russia’s ongoing efforts to deepen strategic cooperation as both nations prepare to mark 25 years of their Declaration on Strategic Partnership.