Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri today said the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on the proposed Free Trade Agreement that is under discussion between India and the Eurasian Economic Union. Briefing media in New Delhi this evening, Mr Misri said the Agreement is expected to help address the issue of the trade deficit. He said it was agreed between both sides that negotiation should be fast tracked for early conclusion with stipulated timelines. Both sides also underscored the importance of expediting the discussions on the Bilateral Investment Treaty which will help energise investment in both directions.
The Foreign Secretary remarked that India-Russia defence and military technical cooperation remains robust. He highlighted that Russia also continues to support India’s Make In India initiative in this domain. He said that on global and multilateral issues, both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the reform of global governance. They underlined the imperative to reform the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary realities.
Mr Misri said that on Ukraine conflict, President Putin briefed Prime Minister Modi at considerable length concerning recent developments, including on the talks that are currently underway between Russian representatives and US authorities. He said Prime Minister reiterated India’s long standing position on this conflict, emphasising India’s interest in seeing the earliest possible cessation of hostilities and sustainable resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
