Overview

• Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Sergey Lavrov said India has the sovereign right to choose its energy partners and dismissed talk of secondary sanctions disrupting trade.
• The Russian foreign minister asserted the India–Russia economic relationship is not under threat and praised New Delhi’s “self-respect” in maintaining its oil policy.
• Lavrov said a visit by President Vladimir Putin to New Delhi is being planned for December, with regular ministerial exchanges continuing this year.
• He described the relationship as a “particularly privileged strategic partnership” spanning defense, technology, finance, healthcare and coordination in SCO and BRICS.
• Russia publicly backed India’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat as U.S. tariffs reported at up to 50%, including levies linked to Russian crude, remain a point of tension.