In India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the friendly relations between the two countries and his interest in a “balanced world order”. “Today, our Western counterparts want to bring important international issues back to the crisis in Ukraine,” he said Friday during a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. “We appreciate India looking at this situation as a whole.”
Lavrov visits India immediately after China. The world’s most populous countries have so far not supported Western sanctions, nor condemned Russia in the war in Ukraine. At the meeting in New Delhi, Jaishankar emphasized that bilateral relations had expanded.
India abstains from UN resolutions
India has taken a neutral stance and abstained from voting on UN Security Council resolutions. The world’s most populous democracy with more than 1.3 billion inhabitants has so far not criticized Russia’s war of aggression, despite pressure from the US and Europe. The reason: India and Russia have long and close ties.
A tightrope walk between Russian military aid and US relations
Much of the equipment used by the Indian military also comes from Russia. India is arming itself against rivals China and Pakistan and already depends on Russia for spare parts, but also maintains good relations with the US. Before meeting Lavrov, Jaishankar emphasized: “As you know, India has always been in favor of resolving disputes and disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.”
New big buyer for Russian oil?
India wants to expand its trade with Russia and, for example, buy increasingly cheaper Russian oil. There are also reports that India and Russia are seeking a solution to facilitate this trade through an alternative to the Swift banking network.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
