India, Russia hold Foreign Office Consultations, discuss ‘schedule of upcoming contacts’

Against the backdrop of the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, Indian and Russian diplomats held a round of Foreign Office Consultations here on Monday (March 30, 2026). The meeting came days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was working on the annual India-Russia summit to be held later this year in Russia.

The Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, while the Indian side was led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. “Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and shared perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. A Russian Embassy readout said the two sides “discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral agenda, including the schedule of upcoming contacts”, indicating that schedules of high-level meetings were also discussed.

Later in the evening, Mr. Rudenko met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and discussed “regional and global developments”.

India is the current chair of BRICS, which includes Russia and India among its founding members. The grouping has not come out with a statement even as the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran have prompted the Islamic Republic to hit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, increasing complications for the BRICS as Saudi Arabia, Iran and the UAE are members of the bloc.  

Highlighting India’s focus on multilateral outfits in the current phase of international events, Mr. Jaishankar, virtually addressing a conference on India-Russia relations on March 23, said “evolving multipolar world” calls for closer cooperation between the two countries, “through BRICS, SCO, G20 and the United Nations”.

Speaking at the same event virtually, Mr. Lavrov called for greater cooperation within the “frameworks of the UN, BRICS, SCO and the G20” and said, “We are ready to fully assist our Indian friends throughout the entire duration of their Chairmanship (of BRICS).”

Subsequently, on March 25, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian indicated convergence of interests over BRICS among Russia, India and China (RIC) and said India and China view each other as “development opportunities”, calling for greater cooperation on issues related to the Global South and BRICS.

India’s ties with Russia faced external pressure when U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a penalty tariff on India in August 2025 for buying Russian crude, a move aimed at weaning India away from the Russian energy sector, which, according to the U.S. policy makers, would help in resolving the crisis in Ukraine. However, against the backdrop of the ongoing Gulf war, which has triggered a global energy crisis, India has resumed purchase of Russian oil.