Russia, India motivated to ensure uninterrupted defence cooperation: Envoy

Russia has been a major supplier of military hardware to India

Russia and India are "very motivated" to ensure that the defence cooperation between the two strategic partners is "uninterrupted" by the Ukraine crisis, and "barriers" created by "negative external factors" are being effectively mitigated, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov said.

The envoy told PTI that Russia's supply of S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems to India is moving ahead "smoothly" as per the schedule and that both sides are maintaining "real-time" communication on critical issues relating to cooperation in the defence sector.

Mr. Alipov's comments came in the backdrop of apprehensions in certain quarters in India that Russia's supply of key military systems and hardware, including the S-400 missile systems to the Indian armed forces, could be delayed due to the conflict in Ukraine.

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"Defence cooperation is one of the major pillars of the Russian-Indian special and privileged strategic partnership. Both our nations are very motivated to ensure that it remains uninterrupted," Mr. Alipov said.

"We managed to successfully mitigate barriers created by negative external factors and adjust to new realities using alternative payments and logistics options," he said.

Asked specifically about the supply of the S-400 missile systems, Mr. Alipov said, "it is moving smoothly according to the schedule."