New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on bilateral cooperation, the Ukraine conflict along with regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Taking to Twitter Jaishankar wrote that bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation were reviewed along with discussing on G20 and BRICS. "Comprehensive review of our bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Appreciated Russia’s support for India’s SCO presidency. Also discussed issues about G20 and BRICS", India's external affairs minister Jaishankar tweeted.
The meeting was held at a beach resort in Benaulim on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers meeting in Goa. This is for the first time that India holds the presidency of the organisation. Later, in July, the SCO summit will be organised in Delhi.
The meet comes a day after Ukraine was accused by the Kremlin of attacking Russia with drones to kill President Vladamir Putin. It is not known whether discussions were held on the trade-related issues. India has been stressing Russia to address the existing trade imbalances that are in favour of Russia. The trade between India and Russia has witnessed a rise after oil was procured by India from Russia amidst the Ukrain crisis. Despite western pressure, India has refrained from openly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But, it has advocated dialogue and diplomacy for ending all conflicts.
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The SCO was set up in 2001. It is an intergovernmental organisation. India became a member of SCO in 2017 and the other member countries of the organisation are Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
