Russian Foreign Minister to visit Delhi this week
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Delhi this week for an official meeting, because the war in Ukraine finished one month, a confirmed source. Visit, the first by Senior Russian official since President Vladimir Putin said the war in a neighboring country, came in the midst of busy trips by several leaders from the Western-supported sanctions regime, looking for a shift in India, who had not criticized Moscow for the invasion.
The visit of the MODI Government TN was shown in parliament last week that being considered a Russian discount oil offer and a special inter-minister led by the Ministry of Finance was seeking payment issues for Indian importer and exporters arising from war and western sanctions.
Bank team to visit India
The source told Hindu that there would be technical talks between the Russian Central Bank or Russian Bank and Indian reserve banks this week, and a team will travel to India ahead of Lavrov’s visit, to discuss further payment structures.
India will also look for clarity and guarantees from Russia on sending spare parts and timely components to use and ongoing transactions including the S-400 assault rifle and AK-203, among others, and streamline the rupee payment system for every purchase in the future front.
Ahead of the visit of Lavrov, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov, who was just appointed summoned three senior officials at the External Ministry last week: Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma, Secretary (East) Kumar Saurabh, and Secretary (economic relations) Damamu Ravi. In Tweet, Mr. Alipov said he held an exchange for Russian-Indian cooperation at the United Nations, G-20, and other multilateral platforms.
G-20 grouping
US President Joe Biden said last week that he was discussing the possibility of removing Russia from the G-20 grouping, with the next Summit held in Bali, Indonesia in November this year. When asked, officials said India, who would host the G20 KTT in 2023, could not support such a move.
U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Foreign Minister Mexico Ebrard will be in Delhi midweek too, while Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz will arrive in front of the visit of Prime Minister Naftali Bennet Sunday next. In addition, the Minister of External Affairs S. Jaisankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to travel to A.S. To meet with their colleagues, Antony Blinken and General Lloyd Austin later this month, where might A.S. Sanctions on the purchase of S400 can appear.
‘The common element’
Lavrov’s visit will follow a few days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went to Delhi, and discussed the issue of Ukraine, among others with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Mr. Jaishankar, where Mr. Jaishankar said “General Elements” in thinking in the crisis is the need for Direct weapons ceasefire and return to dialogue and diplomacy. Mr. Lavrov is likely to travel to Beijing too, for bilateral talks and a conference in Afghanistan.
India consistently abstained from all resolutions at the United Nations criticized Russia so far, and called for talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken with President Mr Putin and Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky several times on the phone between February 24 and March 7 while Indian students are being transported back from Ukraine, and diplomats have suggested mediate resolution.
