At a meeting with reporters, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that New Delhi is very open about its engagement with Moscow, after responding questions about the growing criticism from the Western powers over the trade relations with Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine.

Bagchi mentioned the continuity of Russia’s energy supply to Europe and noted that this shows that no political coloring should be attached to India’s actions.

The spokesperson added that both capitals are in talks to determine a payment mechanism between the two countries, amid the sanctions imposed on the Kremlin by Western states.

Last week, US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Daleep Singh warned India that it should not violate the sanctions on Russia.

The world’s second most populous nation has avoided blindly joining the anti-Russian rhetoric promoted by the Western powers and instead it urged the parties involved in the military conflict to follow dialogue and diplomacy.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will head the Indian delegation for the Fourth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with the United States, to be held on April 11 in Washington, D.C.

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