External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar pressed Russia for the safe and speedy return of Indian nationals caught up in the Ukraine war during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to review bilateral relations.
Good to meet Russian FM Sergey Lavrov in Astana today.
Wide ranging conversation on our bilateral partnership and contemporary issues. Noted the progress in many areas since our last meeting in December 2023.
Raised our strong concern on Indian nationals who are currently in… pic.twitter.com/pPlM4HSesr
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 3, 2024
The discussion took place between the two foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. They also laid the groundwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow from July 8-9.
Representing Bharat at the SCO Summit in place of PM Modi, Jaishankar posted on X that he raised concerns about Indians serving in the Russian military. “Raised our strong concern on Indian nationals who are currently in the war zone. Pressed for their safe and expeditious return,” he said, without directly referencing the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Bharat had expressed expectations last month that Russia would act on New Delhi’s demand for a “verified stop” to the recruitment of Indian nationals in the Russian Army, following the deaths of four Indians on the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine.
After the deaths of two Indians, Bharat had called for an end to the recruitment of Indians by the Russian Army on June 11. This demand was made soon after the foreign secretary attended the National Day reception at the Russian embassy.
Approximately 25 Indians serving with the Russian military have sought help to be released, with 10 already repatriated to Bharat. Reports suggest up to 200 Indians had been recruited by the Russian military as support staff, such as cooks and helpers, though sources estimate the number to be closer to 100.
Bharat has refrained from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, instead calling for an end to hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
In his post on X, Jaishankar noted that he and Lavrov had a comprehensive discussion on the bilateral partnership and contemporary issues. “Noted the progress in many areas since our last meeting in December 2023. Also discussed the global strategic landscape and exchanged assessments and views,” he said.
Sources indicated that the meeting allowed both sides to prepare for PM Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia, his first trip since 2019 and the first since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to participate in the annual Bharat-Russia Summit, which hasn’t been held in the past two years. This meeting is anticipated to reinvigorate the bilateral relationship and outline future cooperation in key areas such as energy, defence, space, and civilian nuclear power.
After arriving in Astana on Tuesday, Jaishankar met Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to discuss the bilateral strategic partnership and Bharat’s increasing engagement with Central Asia. On Wednesday, Jaishankar is expected to meet his counterparts from Belarus, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
