India-Russia: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their bonhomie even as they laid out the roadmap for enhancing bilateral ties across all sectors, especially trade and defense, Russia's Charge d'affaires at the Russian Embassy in India Roman Babushkin said Moscow lauds India's “neutral” stance in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
“India’s position is neutral and stands strong in defending the principle … This is a war between Russia and the West. India has a clear understanding of the origin of the conflict. India is not buying the false narratives … Both leaders had an in-depth discussion on Ukraine,” Babushkin said at a media briefing in New Delhi on Wednesday.
He said Prime Minister Modi has “shown the world” what is strategic autonomy and that the world is going to witness the growth of “independent centres of power” and that “India and Russia has an all-weather special and strategic partnership.”
Refuting the comments made by the US expressing concerns over Modi’s visit to Moscow and the closeness between India and Russia, Babushkin said, “It was a conduct of two independent global powers (Russia and India) and a demonstration of sovereignty that was aimed at promoting national interest … The west’s interference was not required here. American comments don't matter.”
“Western narratives talk about a divided world … We know India’s concerns on China but China is not a factor in Russia-India relations … The west wants to separate us (Russia, China and India) by talking about Russia and China and Russia and India,” Babushkin added.
Swiss Peace Summit was a ‘Tamasha’
According to Babushkin, the Swiss Peace Summit, officially called the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, was nothing but a ‘tamasha’ (drama) with a meaningful agenda or outcome on resolving the war.
“The war is between Russia and the west … The Peace Summit was nothing but a ‘tamasha’ and Russia does not see any realistic goals there,” he stressed.
On Tuesday, Modi said he had a long conversation with Putin for almost four to five hours at the latter’s residence in a free and frank manner about the issue of Ukraine, just like “two close friends” discussing each other’s perspectives on the matter.
Babushkin said India and Russia would soon take their defence partnership to the next level and the defence ministers of both countries will engage by the end of the year.
According to the joint statement issued after the India-Russia Annual Summit, “Responding to India’s quest for self-sufficiency, the partnership is reorienting presently to joint research and development, co-development and joint production of advanced defence technology and systems. The sides confirmed their commitment to maintain the momentum of joint military cooperation activities and expand military delegation exchanges.”
We Never Wanted Indians To Be Part Of Russian Army
On the issue of Indian nationals getting engaged in the Ukraine war by fighting for the Russian Army, Babushkin said, Moscow never wanted Indians to be working for their armed forces.
“This is a common problem... We never wanted Indians to be part of the Russian Army. We didn’t want to recruit them. They were there on an illegal basis,” said Babushkin.
He also pointed out, “We don’t want them in the Russian Army and so does India. Criminals are cheating them. Some want to earn money and some are cheaters.”
The issue of Indians fighting the war for the Russian Army was raised “strongly” by the PM with Putin, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday.
Both sides are working towards bringing back the Indian nationals there who were apparently duped by their recruiters luring them with lucrative job offers abroad but ultimately put them in the Russian Army.