On his two-day official visit amid Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, the Foreign Minister had met his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar and discussed many issues. He is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi next.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is on an official visit to New Delhi, on Thursday said that if India wants to buy anything from Moscow, the country is ready to discuss and reach mutually acceptable cooperation.
Addressing a select group of reporters, Lavrov was asked about how he sees India’s position in the ongoing war, the offer of oil supply to India, and any confirmation of Rupee-Ruble payment and sanctions. He replied and said, “If India wants to buy anything from us, ready to discuss and reach mutually acceptable cooperation,” he said, adding “We will be ready to supply to India any goods which it wants to buy from us. We are ready to discuss. Russia and India have very good relations.”
He further said that relations with India were developed over many decades while answering how they can support India in terms of security challenges.
On his two-day official visit amid Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, the Foreign Minister had met his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar and discussed many issues. He is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi next.
Lavrov also said that India can mediate between Moscow and Kyiv as the peace talks between the two counties failed to come up with solutions yet to end the war.
Responding to news agency ANI’s question on the possibility of India becoming a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, he said, “India is an important country. If India sees to play that role which provides resolution of the problem…If India is with its position of a just and rational approach to international problems, it can support such process.”
“I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterized by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners,” he said.
When asked about US pressure on India will affect Indo-Russian ties, the Russian FM said, “Have no doubt pressure doesn’t affect partnership, I have no doubt no pressure will affect our partnership… They (US) are forcing others to follow their politics.”
He also slammed for calling the special operation in Ukraine a war when asked about the developments in Ukraine, Lavrov said, “You called it a war which is not true. It is a special operation, military infrastructure is being targeted. The aim is to deprive the Kyiv regime of building the capacity to present any threat to Russia.”
(ANI inputs)
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