During the 80th UNGA, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin plans to visit India in December. The visit to New Delhi is expected to cover a broad range of topics, including trade, military cooperation, technological exchange, finance, humanitarian aid, healthcare, and high-tech developments like artificial intelligence.
Regarding potential US sanctions on India for buying Russian oil, Lavrov asserted that the economic partnership between the two nations is robust. He stated that India makes its own choices regarding its partnerships. The US is welcome to propose ideas for boosting trade with India, but India will determine its relationships with other countries independently. Lavrov emphasized India’s autonomy in trade decisions, recalling recent discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the ongoing diplomatic exchanges. Lavrov also emphasized the enduring strategic partnership between India and Russia, including close cooperation at the highest levels. He highlighted the ‘particularly privileged strategic partnership’ between the countries, which is a testament to the close ties. Lavrov noted the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin at the SCO summit and the close coordination between the two nations on the international stage.