India, Aug. 20 -- India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) - a five-member post-Soviet bloc that includes Russia - agreed on Wednesday to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA).

India and EAEU, comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation, signed the terms of reference (ToR) to launch the FTA negotiations in Moscow, the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.

"Shri Ajay Bhadoo, #India's Chief Negotiator, signed the Terms of Reference with the EAEU, clearing the pathway for FTA talks with a combined bloc of US$6.5T GDP," the department of commerce said in a social media post on X.

Bhadoo also met with Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) trade minister Andrei Slepnev to discuss next s...