Jaishankar to visit Russia next week; to hold talks with top leaders

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will travel to Moscow next week to hold crucial talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, amid some strain in India's ties with the US over New Delhi's procurement of crude oil from Russia.

Jaishankar's trip to Russia comes days after National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval travelled to Russia and met President Vladimir Putin and several top-ranking officials.

The two sides are also likely to give final touches to various elements of Putin's visit to India later this year, people familiar with the external affairs minister's trip to Moscow said.

Deputy spokesperson of Russia's foreign ministry Aleksey Fadeyev said in Moscow that the heads of the two countries' foreign offices will discuss "most important issues of the bilateral agenda".

The people cited above said Jaishankar will be on a two-day visit to Russia and is likely to call on Putin, besides holding wide-ranging talks with Foreign Minister Lavrov.

The external affairs minister is also expected to co-chair the 26th session of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific-Technological and Cultural Cooperation.

The Russian delegation at the dialogue is likely to be led by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

India's continued energy procurement from Russia is likely to figure in Jaishankar's meetings with Russian leaders in Moscow.

US President Donald Trump issued an executive order last week, slapping an additional 25-per cent tariff on Indian goods as a penalty for New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil.

The additional duties raised the overall tariff on India to 50 per cent.

Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics.