External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Atlanta on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, with discussions centring on the Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Gulf and a range of multilateral issues.

Confirming the meeting on social media, Jaishankar wrote: “Discussed the Ukraine conflict, Gulf situation and multilateral issues with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia.”

The bilateral engagement came at a time when the Russia-Ukraine war continues to shape global diplomatic debates, while rising tensions across West Asia have increased concerns regarding energy security, maritime trade routes and broader regional stability.

The two ministers exchanged views on developments in Ukraine and the Gulf, while also reviewing wider international issues confronting the global community. India’s engagement with Russia has continued despite persistent disagreements between Moscow and several Western capitals over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

New Delhi has maintained that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective path towards resolving international disputes. Reflecting that position during the G20 deliberations, Jaishankar stressed the need for diplomatic engagement over military approaches, arguing that military solutions alone cannot address increasingly complex global challenges.

The meeting took place amid visible divisions within the G20 over the Ukraine war and other pressing international security issues.

The two-day gathering in Atlanta was hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and focused heavily on energy security, supply chain resilience, freedom of navigation, food security and major geopolitical crises affecting the global economy.

Russia’s participation at the meeting triggered disagreements among some delegations. Several European representatives reportedly objected to appearing alongside Lavrov in the traditional group photograph, leading organisers to cancel the planned photo session.

The gathering ultimately concluded without a joint communique after member states were unable to reach consensus on several contentious issues. Instead, the United States opted to issue a chairman’s statement outlining the substance of the discussions.

Alongside the Ukraine conflict and developments in West Asia, ministers also examined challenges relating to energy flows, global supply chains, food security and the security of critical maritime corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, both of which remain vital to international commerce and global energy markets.

During his visit to Atlanta, Jaishankar also participated in a Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting alongside counterparts from the United States, Japan and Australia. The four nations agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, critical minerals infrastructure and maritime security across the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad partners announced the creation of the first-ever Quad Business Leaders’ Forum, aimed at strengthening collaboration between governments and industry while accelerating investment and innovation across the region.

The grouping also unveiled plans to provide more than $85 million in technical and financial assistance to expand access to trusted artificial intelligence technologies across the Indo-Pacific.

In another significant announcement, the Quad members revealed plans for the first Sea Dragon 2027 maritime surveillance collaboration initiative, underscoring their growing focus on maritime domain awareness, regional security and the protection of key sea lanes.

The Atlanta meetings highlighted India’s continued diplomatic outreach across competing geopolitical camps, while reinforcing its longstanding position that dialogue, cooperation and multilateral engagement remain essential for managing global conflicts and safeguarding international stability.

ANI