New Delhi: The leaders of Russia and India are seeking to boost its economic ties, with Russia assuring India it can ramp up deliveries of fertilisers. The assurance was given during the meeting of the two External Affairs Ministers, S. Jaishankar and Putin, in Moscow on Monday.
Fertiliser supply is a concern for India as it directly impacts the farmers and agriculture production. India is getting urea supplies from Russia, which has become one of its major suppliers, particularly urea. Reports suggest Indian fertiliser imports rose by almost 40 per cent in 2025, which was due to the supply from Russia.
Russia was already doing its best to boost fertiliser supplies to India, and was prepared to do more more, Putin said. His statement comes at a time when the world supply chains are getting strained due to the going crisis in West Asia. Shipping and energy markets are disrupted, creating concerns about uninterrupted flow of supplies, such as fertilisers.
India-Russia trade relations were also discussed in the context of their overall expansion during the meeting between Jaishankar and Putin. Foreign trade has grown sharply over the past few years, primarily due to the Russian oil imports and some other essential commodities into India. Reports also indicate that trade between the two countries has increased from nearly $13 billion in FY2022 to nearly $60 billion in FY2026.
The expanding volume of trade has likewise led to a significant trade surplus for Russia. India has been seeking to boost its trade with Russia and create a more balanced trade with Russia.
It is anticipated that there will be a continued high level of cooperation among the parties in relation to fertiliser. The two countries have also been discussing in the course of Putin’s 2025 visit to India ways of securing long-term supplies of fertilizers and joint production.
Putin’s latest pledge is likely to ease the worry of Indian farmers and fertiliser companies. Uncertainties in the global supply chain could make it difficult for India to get a reliable supply of this essential agricultural input, a situation that Russia could fill.
The discussions also indicate that India and Russia have continued to strengthen their economic relationship in spite of the changes and challenges in the global markets.
