Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is on an official visit to New Delhi.
Addressing reporters in the national capital on Thursday, Lavrov said that Russia is “ready to discuss and reach mutually acceptable cooperation” if India wants to buy anything from the Russian Federation.
“I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterised 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,” Sergey Lavrov told news agency ANI in response to a question about how he saw India’s position on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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Lavrov, who was in China before his visit to New Delhi, went on to add, “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.”
Asked how Moscow can support New Delhi to meet security challenges, he said, “Talks are characterised by relations which we developed with India for many decades. Relations are strategic partnerships…This was the basis on which we have been promoting our cooperation in all areas.”
#WATCH | Russian Foreign Min replies to ANI on how he sees India’s position in ongoing war,offer of oil supply to India, any confirmation on Rupee-Ruble payment&sanctions
“If India wants to buy anything from us, ready to discuss & reach mutually acceptable cooperation,” he says pic.twitter.com/41Qh1B3qBP
– ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2022
The Russian Foreign Minister also objected to reporters referring to the conflict in Ukraine as a war.
“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 from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia,” Sergey Lavrov said.
In response to a question about whether pressure from the US and other allies could impact the relationship between Moscow and New Delhi, Lavrov said, “I have no doubt no pressure will affect our partnership… They [US] are forcing others to follow their politics.”