Russia’s government is working to simplify procedures for issuing passport visas to citizens of six countries, including India, Syria and Indonesia, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov said on Sunday, according to the state-run TASS news agency.

“Beyond India (the simplification of procedures concerns) Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria and the Philippines,” Mr. Ivanov clarified.

He had announced that Moscow would sign international agreements on visa-free travel for citizens of 11 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Barbados, Haiti, Zambia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico and Trinidad, according to the TASS.

Since the Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, Moscow has been trying to cultivate closer relations with China, India, African and Latin American countries.

While the US, EU and Japan condemned the invasion and imposed sanctions on Russia, China and India did neither. India maintains a neutral stance, refrains from condemning Moscow for the invasion and has significantly increased its purchases of Russian oil.