Sitharaman said that she was entering financial year 2022-23 (FY23) with "cautious optimism" at a time of global commodity price escalation due to the Russia-Ukraine war
Describing India as an "important and serious" country, he said it does not come under any influence of the US
German officials said contracts stipulate payment for gas in euros and dollars and that must continue
Lavrov said Russia is committed to maintaining the flow of trade with India notwithstanding the sanction regimes
On Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told NDTV that India can use its influence with Russia to convince it to stop the war in Ukraine
India and China are the only major countries that have not condemned what Russia calls its "special military operation"
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Lavrov briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations
Lavrov categorically said Russia's aim in Ukraine is to deprive the Kiev regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia
Lavrov, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day official visit, also lauded independent Indian foreign policy and discussed a myriad of issues including, US pressure on India
India also gets offer of rupee-ruble-denominated payments
Lavrov, who arrived on Thursday on a two-day official visit, is expected to meet and hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday
Russian President said on Thursday that he had signed a decree saying foreign buyers must pay in roubles for Russian gas from April 1
As diplomatic efforts over India's position on Ukraine heat up, US Deputy NSA Daleep Singh is in New Delhi at the same time as Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are expected
Since the start of the war, India has been facing pressure from the West and its allies to take a stronger stand against Russia
It would be the highest-level visit from Russia to India after Moscow launched its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24
Russian FM Sergei Lavrov arrived in China to take part in the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries being organised by Beijing, amid the Ukraine crisis.
According to The Kyiv Post, a group of 25 people led by the Russian special services was captured near the Slovakia-Hungary border.
It would be the highest-level visit from Russia to India after Moscow launched its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24
The Pentagon's interest in biological laboratories in the former Soviet republics requires clarification, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
The US would not like to see a rapid completion of the Moscow-Kiev peace talks but hopes that Russia is mired in prolonged hostilities, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.