Russia ready to supply goods that India wants to buy: Foreign minister Lavrov

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday (April 1) said that Moscow is ready to supply to India anything New Delhi wants.

Amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lavrov is on a two-day official visit to India. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Also read: Nothing wrong in buying discounted oil from Russia, says India

The talks were held a day after the US warned of consequences over attempts to “circumvent” American sanctions against Moscow.

“We will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy. If India wants to buy anything from us, we are ready to discuss and reach mutually acceptable cooperation,” Lavrov said on oil purchase from Russia.

A Bloomberg report on Thursday said sanctions-hit Russia had offered oil to India at discounts of $35 per barrel.

PM Modi calls for early cessation of violence

On Friday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India has already started buying oil from Russia and would continue to do so.

Jaishankar said he held talks with Lavrov and discussed the situation in Ukraine among other things.

“Concluded talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Discussed bilateral cooperation and developments in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran, Indo-Pacific, ASEAN and the Indian sub-continent,” he tweeted with pictures of their meeting.

Concluded talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Discussed bilateral cooperation and developments in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran, Indo-Pacific, ASEAN and the Indian sub-continent. pic.twitter.com/jAlrpol5Gt

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 1, 2022

In his meeting with Lavrov, PM Modi said India was ready to contribute to the peace efforts, and reiterated his call for early cessation of violence in Ukraine.

“Foreign Minister Lavrov briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations. Prime Minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence, and conveyed India’s readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts,” Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

“The Russian Foreign Minister also updated Prime Minister on the progress of decisions taken during the India-Russia bilateral Summit held in December 2021,” it added.

India’s role in mediation

Lavrov said India can play a role to provide a resolution to the ongoing Ukraine crisis. “India is an important and serious country. If India plays that role that provides resolution, India as our common partner… we are for security guarantee of Ukraine… West has ignored its responsibility… India can support such a process.”

“The Western colleagues just made their real face known these days and I have no slightest doubt that most countries…understand what is going on,” he said.

India has not yet criticised Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms in condemning the Russian actions. India has been pressing for the resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.

The minister said Russia is committed to maintaining the flow of trade with India notwithstanding the sanction regimes.

“It is a natural route for us to decide on a mutually beneficial relationship. In the context of this kind of unjustified reaction, we have to objectively and naturally work in this direction, work in trade and economic areas.

“It’s not yesterday but for many years we have been dealing with Western sanctions and we have experience of how to live in these conditions and we are fine and our partners are also fine in that,” he said.

Lavrov praises India’s independent foreign policy

Lavrov lauded India’s independent foreign policy. “I believe that India’s foreign policy is characterised by independence and the concentration on the real national legitimate interests,” he said.

On whether having a rouble-rupee payment system was discussed in the talks, Lavrov said, “I would recall that many years ago we started moving in our relations with India, China (and) many other countries from using dollar and euros to more and more use of national currencies. Under the current circumstances, this trend I believe will be intensified, which is natural and obvious.”

Earlier in the day, Lavrov said Russian President Vladimir Putin and PM Modi were in regular touch. “The President and the Prime Minister (Modi) are in regular touch with each other and I will report to the President about my negotiations. He sends by the way his best regards to Prime Minister Modi and I would appreciate an opportunity to deliver this message personally.”

Welcomed Russian FM Sergey Lavrov in Hyderabad House.

Look forward to our conversation today. pic.twitter.com/bc9qrO2TxD

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 1, 2022

(With inputs from PTI)