Jaishankar holds talks with Russian counterpart amid US warning

New Delhi: Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Friday. The talks were held a day after the United States' warning that nations who bypass American sanctions on Moscow would face the consequences, PTI reported.

The talks were held in the backdrop of hints that India could buy Russian oil for discounted prices, and the two nations will have a rouble-rupee arrangement for bilateral trade.

Lavrov landed in New Delhi after he visited China. He has a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his meeting with Jaishankar.

Following Washington's warning against nations working against its sanctions, it said that it does not wish to see any increase in the import of energy and other items to India from Russia.

Sources informed that during the meetings with Lavrov, India might push for the early delivery of various military hardware, along with S-400 missile systems from Russia.

Though many powerful nations stand against Russia, India has abstained from votes in the United Nations resolutions, which condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. India has also refrained from a Russian resolution on Thursday proposed by the UN on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and the Indian move indicated its neutral stand on the issue.

India kept a neutral stand in the Ukraine-Russia war and maintained that diplomacy and dialogue are the apt channels to resolve the issue between them. PM Modi had held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin thrice after Russia initiated its aggression, while with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar told Parliament last week that India has a consistent and static position on the Ukraine issue, which is an immediate end to violence.