New Delhi/UNI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jens Plötner, the Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to the German Chancellor, during which they discussed the bilateral ties as well as “exchanged views on the situation in Europe” – signifying the Ukraine conflict.

In a tweet, Jaishankar said: “Glad to meet Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to German Chancellor Jens Plötner today. Discussed our expanding strategic partnership and exchanged views on the situation in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.”

The meeting between the two comes ahead of the reported India visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month.

Jens Plötner also met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval Monday.

Germany is India’s largest trade partner in the European Union. The two sides have enjoyed close ties since 2001 and have identified new areas of cooperation – digitalization, agriculture, clean energy, e-mobility, smart cities, Industry 4.0, start-ups.

India and Germany hold Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) between the two governments, which provide a platform for a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and identify fresh areas of engagement.

The two sides held the sixth IGC in May last year in Berlin, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead a ministerial delegation and co-chair a CEO forum alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During a meeting with media persons here, Plotner described India’s voice as “important” in the effort to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict “as it is listened to in Moscow”.

The discussions between Plotner and Indian officials on the situation in Europe come as Germany is reported to have agreed to provide Ukraine with 14 Leopard 2 battle tanks, which Kyiv hopes will help it turn the course of the war to its advantage.

Germany is also to start training Ukrainian soldiers to use and maintain the Leopard 2 main battle tanks.