New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs has responded to the recent remarks made by United States Deputy NSA Daleep Singh with regard to relations between India and Russia. Addressing the media on Thursday, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi maintained that India has established economic relations with Russia while its focus remains on stabilizing the relations amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The MEA spokesperson stated that India's position is clear and also cited External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's remarks that politics should not be attributed to India's decisions. Bagchi also spoke about Western sanctions and remarked that the talks pertaining to it are ongoing, though not on the entire trade relations between India and Russia. These remarks come after the West's growing criticism of India over its trade ties with Russia even as the war in Ukraine continues. Meanwhile, Bagchi also said discussions are underway to see what kind of payment mechanism can work between India and Russia in the current circumstances
The MEA also informed that Minister Jaishankar will be visiting the US from April 11-12. His visit comes amid the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine and the pressure from the West for maintaining a neutral stance over the crisis and not condemning the Russian invasion.
Despite sanctions from the West on Russia, Indian oil companies have already purchased Russian oil at discounted prices which were offered to India amid global sanctions and rising global crude prices.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday refused to comment on the political crisis in Pakistan and said that India doesn't comment on internal matters. The MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "This is their internal matter, I have no comments to offer as of now. We are watching the developments but we don't comment on internal matters".
On being asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bagchi refrained from making any comments saying that the remarks were made in the context of 'domestic political' developments and does not have anything to do with foreign policy.
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