Jaishankar meets Russian counterpart Lavrov, EU top diplomat Borrell, Nigeria’s FM Onyeama

Ahead of the G20 Foreign Minister’s Meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov , European Union Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell and Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama .

Jaishankar will chair two sessions at the foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar said the conversation with Borell focused on the G20 agenda and the Ukraine conflict.

“Pleased to meet EU HRVP @JosepBorrellF before the #G20FMM tomorrow. Our conversation focused on the G20 agenda and the Ukraine conflict. Appreciated the steady growth of India-EU cooperation,” tweeted Jaishankar.

Speaking at a special briefing on G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, “India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict is that ‘This isn’t an era of war’. Dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward. The agenda is for the foreign ministers to discuss in the meet.”

He said the Russia-Ukraine conflict will be an important point of discussion when the foreign ministers from around the world meet during Thursday’s Group of 20 (G20) gathering in New Delhi.

“Given the developing situation of Russia-Ukraine, naturally, it’ll be an important point of discussion during the Foreign Ministers Meeting. Foreign ministers will be focusing on the Russia-Ukraine situation, it’ll be important to what they come out with, what understanding is developed,” said Kwatra.

Jaishankar also met Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and underlined India’s strong commitment to the Global South and the interests of the African Union.

Took up the MV Heroic Idun issue and pressed for early repatriation of crew members,” tweeted Jaishankar. (ANI)