India, Aug. 22 -- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held wide-ranging discussions in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, focusing on trade, defence, and regional connectivity. The visit sets the stage for Russian President Vladimir Putin's expected visit to India later this year and underscores the enduring strength of a partnership often described as one of the steadiest since the end of the Second World War.

At a joint press briefing, Jaishankar called India-Russia ties "among the steadiest of major relationships," citing shared geopolitical convergence, high-level leadership engagement, and strong public sentiment as key drivers. He emphasised that, even amid evolving global dynamics, "our defence and m...