NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday briefed a parliamentary consultative committee on India’s “multifaceted” engagement with Russia, covering bilateral trade, investment and energy cooperation as well as New Delhi’s diplomatic efforts to contribute towards ending the Ukraine conflict.Chairing the meeting on India-Russia relations, Jaishankar also informed members that Russia has agreed to take around 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year, particularly in construction and logistics, people familiar with the discussions said, according to news agency PTI.Jaishankar said India and Russia share an ambition to expand bilateral trade in a more balanced manner, including by increasing Indian exports to Russia across seven sectors — automobiles, pharmaceuticals, food, marine products, engineering goods, chemicals and textiles.
Trade, connectivity and energy cooperation
The minister highlighted various areas of bilateral engagement, including trade, investments, energy, connectivity, culture and people-to-people ties, according to a social media post by Jaishankar.The discussions also covered an India-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement, the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Northern Sea Route.On energy cooperation, Jaishankar said India’s priority was to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers.“Our approach is to maintain multiple sources of supply,” he said, according to people familiar with the meeting.The government has also been seeking to expand opportunities for Indian workers in Russia.
Ukraine conflict and India’s diplomatic efforts
The Ukraine conflict also featured prominently in the discussions, with Jaishankar apprising the panel of India’s position and recent diplomatic efforts to support dialogue and diplomacy.In his social media post, Jaishankar said he highlighted India’s “active support to dialogue & diplomacy to end the Ukraine conflict”.The minister referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 31 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek, where the PM said that “endless war must now give way to end of war”.Jaishankar travelled to Ukraine last month and subsequently met the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. During those engagements, he conveyed India’s readiness to assist efforts to bring the conflict to an end, people familiar with the meeting said.“If India can be of any help in any manner to bring the war to an end, it is ready to do so,” Jaishankar said in his conversations.Putin’s recent remarks at the Valdai Club in Moscow were also discussed. He had said Prime Minister Modi “has very good ideas for finding mutually acceptable solutions” to bring peace.Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha’s remarks appreciating India’s efforts were also noted during the meeting.
Efforts to secure Indians in Russian military
Jaishankar also briefed the committee on the government’s efforts to secure the release of Indian nationals serving in the Russian military.
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The government has engaged with Russian authorities, including at the highest levels, for the early discharge of such individuals, the people cited above said.So far, around 140 Indian nationals have been discharged, while India is in touch with Russian authorities regarding the whereabouts of 55 Indian nationals who are reportedly working for the Russian Arm.The government has also been taking action against agents who recruit Indians for such roles, with members being briefed about the risks faced by Indian citizens joining the Russian Army.The parliamentary committee meeting thus covered India’s economic and energy engagement with Russia alongside its diplomatic efforts on Ukraine and its continuing efforts to secure the release of Indian nationals serving in the Russian military.
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