India and Moscow accommodate each other's national interests, says Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov

Russia shares a strong strategic partnership with India and they have respect for each other's national interests, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told ET on Friday, adding that the two partners are seeking to further intensify their trading in the national currencies.

"My conversation with my Indian counterpart S Jaishankar was premised on our strong strategic partnership," Lavrov, on a two-day India visit, told ET. "Talks were characterised by relations which we developed with India for many decades. Relations are strategic partnerships...This was the basis on which we've been promoting our cooperation in all areas."

Apart from foreign minister Jaishankar, Lavrov also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Since the Ukraine conflict began, India is the third country that Lavrov has visited, the other two being China and Turkey, reflecting the depth of ties between New Delhi and Moscow. Turkey is the venue for Russia-Ukraine talks.


"India is a friend and my visit is being held in that context," Lavrov said. "Both respect each other's national interests and accommodate each other's national interests. It is also well known that India pursues an independent foreign policy approach."

Third Visit
India's policy is characterised by independence and concentration on real national legitimate interests, the minister said. "The same policy based in the Russian Federation and this makes us, as big countries, good friends and loyal partners."

India has resisted pressure from the US and others to weigh in against Moscow on the conflict.

Lavrov, on his third visit to India since last April, suggested that the country could possibly be an intermediary in the conflict.

"India is an important country and (if) it seeks to play that role which provides resolution of problem... if it is with its position of just and rational approach to international problems, it can support such process," he said.

When asked about Moscow's role in addressing New Delhi's security challenges in the neighborhood, Lavrov said Russia backs India's national interests. "Russia supports India's efforts to make a strong South Asia and its architecture," he said. Lavrov was visiting India after a visit to China, where he attended a meeting on Afghanistan.

Asked about an effective rupee-rouble arrangement amid US sanctions and as an alternative to the SWIFT platform, Lavrov was quick to mention that India and Russia had for many years been pursuing trade in national currencies and this will intensify, including in the defence sector.

"The countries have to find ways to bypass impediments," he said. "Russia is ready to provide for any product that India requires and we will discuss and work out an arrangement. If India wants to buy anything from Russia, we are ready to discuss it."