External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow today. Later in a joint press conference, Dr. Jaishankar said that India-Russia relations have stood the test of time and are based on mutual trust which will continue to remain so. He expressed his gratitude for the help extended by Russia to India during the second wave of the Kovid epidemic. The Foreign Minister said that four consignments of help from Russia were immediately airlifted to India.
Dr. Jaishankar said that India is partnering with Russia for the production and use of Sputnik vaccines. He said that this will not only benefit India and Russia but the whole world.
The External Affairs Minister said that the situation in Afghanistan was also discussed in the meeting as this matter is directly related to regional security. He said that violent activities in Afghanistan should be reduced. Dr Jaishankar said that it is necessary for India and Russia to work together to maintain the improvement in the economic, social and democratic system of Afghanistan. He also said that India and Russia are committed to an independent, sovereign, united and democratic Afghanistan.
