India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on August 19, 2025, for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening the India-Russia strategic partnership. During the visit, he is scheduled to co-chair the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) alongside Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. Jaishankar is also set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss key bilateral and global issues. In the context of rising US tariffs on Indian goods, Russian officials, including Roman Babushkin, Chargé d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in India, have expressed support for Indian exports, stating that the Russian market remains open and welcoming to Indian products facing difficulties in the US market. Babushkin criticized Western sanctions as unfair and one-sided, emphasizing that Russia is the largest oil producer and India the largest consumer, and dismissed expectations that India would cease buying Russian oil. Evgeniy Griva, Deputy Trade Representative of Russia to India, indicated that oil import prices could see a 5% variation subject to negotiation. The India-Russia relationship continues to expand with ongoing engagements, including plans for cooperation at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin are expected to attend.