蜜芽传媒

The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is visiting India, and is expected to call on India to bypass Western sanctions and buy more Russian oil and gas. India has not condemned the invasion and did not vote against it at the UN. Earlier this month, India agreed to import three million barrels of heavily discounted Russian oil.

Suhasini Haider, national editor and diplomatic editor of The Hindu newspaper, says that India has so far said it is remaing neutral and has not signed up to any UN resolutions that criticizes Russia, and in anticipation of Mr Lavrov's visits, a team from the Central Bank of Russia has met with financial officials in India to discuss "alternative payments" for trade and oil purchases. She says the visit is intended to "shore up" relations with Russia, for India to be briefed on how the war is going, and progression of peace talks - she says India has called for a ceasefire and a return to diplomacy.

Photo: India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar welcomes Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in New Delhi, India 1 April 2022 Credit: EPA