Russia open to supplying any item India desires says, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

New Delhi: Asserting that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is not a war but only a “special operation”, visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday (April 1) said his country is open to supplying whatever items India desires.

“If India wants to buy anything from us, we are ready to discuss and reach mutually acceptable cooperation,” Mr Lavrov told reporters in New Delhi.

He told the questioner, “You called it a war which is not true. It is a special operation. Military infrastructure is being targeted.”

The Russian Foreign Minister said the aim is to “deprive the Kyiv regime from building the capacity to present any threat to Russia”. This is in reference to Ukrainian President Zelensky’s well known US and NATO friendly policies.

Mr Lavrov said, “I believe that Indian foreign policies are characterised by independence and the concentration on real national legitimate interests. The same policy is followed in the Russian Federation, and this makes us, as big countries, good friends & loyal partners.”

He said the talks with the Indian side are 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,” he said.

Laavrov said the real face of western countries stands exposed.

On the new currency issue, he said: “We do not want to be part of a system which could be closed down anytime.”

“We don’t want to depend on a system where your money could be stolen anytime,” he said, sounding critical of western countries.