Don't Expect Help From Russia If China Violates LAC: US Warns India As Lavrov Lands In Delhi

The US also cautioned that countries attempting to “circumvent or backfill” American sanctions against Moscow for its invasion in Ukraine will have to face the consequences.

Visiting US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh | Getty Images

New Delhi: The United States on Thursday warned India against Russia saying that it should not expect Russia to come for help in case China violates the Line of Actual Control (LAC), reported news agency PTI. 

Referring to “no limits” partnership between Russia and China, Visiting US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh said, “"And the more leverage that China gains over Russia, the less favourable that is for India. I don't think anyone would believe that if China once again breaches the Line of Actual Control, Russia would come running to India's defence.” 

Singh’s statement comes at a time when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has come for a two day visit to India. 

The US also cautioned that countries attempting to “circumvent or backfill” American sanctions against Moscow for its invasion in Ukraine will have to face the consequences, adding that it would not like to see “rapid” acceleration in India's import of energy and other commodities from Moscow. 

"What we would not like to see is a rapid acceleration of India's imports from Russia as it relates to energy or any other exports that are currently being prohibited by the US or by other aspects of the international sanctions regime," Singh said, who was on a two-day visit to India on Wednesday. 

The deputy US NSA, after holding meetings with Indian interlocutors including Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, said that the US would not like to see any country engaging in financial transactions with the Russian central bank.

"We would not like to see mechanisms that are designed to prop up the rouble or to undermine the dollar-based financial system or to circumvent our financial sanctions," he told a small group of reporters, reported the news agency. 

Referring to the import of oil from Russia, he said that US stands ready to help Indian in meeting its energy and defence equipment requirements. 

No response from the Indian side has been made yet to the statements by the US Deputy NSA.