India and Russia in ‘advanced talks’ over free trade agreement
India and Russia have entered “advanced negotiations” over a free trade agreement that aims to build closer economic ties as most western governments push to isolate Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
In a development likely to add to tensions in Washington, London and EU capitals, Russia and India’s trade ministers said on Monday the two countries were in talks to strike a free trade deal.
Speaking on a visit to Delhi, Denis Manturov, the Russian deputy prime minister, who is also the trade minister, said: “Together with the Eurasian Economic Commission, we are looking forward to intensifying negotiations on a free trade agreement with India.”
The Indian foreign minister, S Jaishankar, said the Covid pandemic had disrupted discussions between India and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union on a trade deal, and that he hoped “our colleagues will pick up on this … because we do believe it will make a real difference to our trade relationship”.
Jaishankar said “advanced negotiations” were taking place, according to the Times of India, while describing Delhi’s position with Moscow as among the “steadiest” of major relationships in the world.
It comes as Narendra Modi’s government also holds trade talks with Britain and the EU, in a development likely to stoke tensions with the west before India hosts the G20 summit in Delhi this autumn.
The UK is holding an eighth round of trade talks this spring over a free trade agreement with India, which Kemi Badenoch, the trade secretary, has suggested could be concluded as early as this year.
Modi’s government has not explicitly criticised Russia’s war in Ukraine, while calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Trade between Russia and India has jumped since the invasion, despite
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