Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said about the Russia-Ukraine conflict that the violence should stop soon. Modi also reiterated that India is ready to contribute in any way to the peace efforts. This statement of the Prime Minister is also important because before meeting the Prime Minister, the Russian Foreign Minister had said that India can mediate between Russia-Ukraine. Similar things have been said on behalf of the United Nations in the past as well.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that Lavrov met the Prime Minister on Friday. Lavrov apprised the Prime Minister of the latest information on the situation in Ukraine as well as talks for peace. During this, the Prime Minister reiterated that the violence must stop soon and that India is ready to contribute in any way to the peace efforts. During this, the Russian Foreign Minister also briefed the Prime Minister on the progress made on the decisions taken in the India-Russia bilateral summit held in December last year.
Pay in Rupee-Ruble instead of Dollar: Lavrov
Earlier, talking to reporters, Lavrov ignored economic sanctions from Western countries, saying that Russia is keen to bypass the dollar-based system with India by using national currencies. This means that both the countries will pay each other in their currencies i.e. Rupee and Ruble. He clearly said that we have to find ways to remove the obstacles.
US and European countries are protesting
The high-level meeting between India and Russia took place in the backdrop of indications that India’s possibilities of buying large quantities of oil from Russia at wide discounts and rupee-ruble exchange arrangement for bilateral trade emerged. While America and European countries are opposing it and are constantly trying to put pressure on India.
Appreciated India’s approach, told independent foreign policy
The Russian Foreign Minister appreciated India’s stand on the current situation during talks with Jaishankar. Lavrov appreciated India’s stand on Russia-Ukraine issue and said that India’s foreign policy is governed by its independent position.