Russia will soon finish sending India the third regiment of S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems, according to Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov. Both sides are committed to the contract.
“In a very short time, it will be done… Both sides have agreed to finish the whole contract, and we will do that for sure. There’s nothing to stop that, “Alipov said on Monday.
At a conference about India-Russia relations, the Russian ambassador to India answered a question about the supplies of missile systems. Russia has already finished delivering the missile systems for the first two regiments.
When asked if he thought India could help end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Alipov said that Moscow is open to any serious talks about how to end the conflict diplomatically.
“As my foreign minister says, we are willing to listen to any serious offer, no matter who makes it. We are willing to talk with anyone who is serious about ending it diplomatically “he said.
“There are none right now. If India wants to take a more active role, we will definitely listen to India very carefully and look at all of the ideas very seriously “he said. “But I don’t think it’s up to me to decide if India wants to get involved in this very complicated conflict.”
India, unlike many other major countries, hasn’t directly criticised Russia for invading Ukraine, and it didn’t even vote against the Russian invasion at the UN. India has been pushing for diplomacy and talks to be used to solve the problem.
He also said that Russia’s defence ties with India were “unprecedented.”
“The licenced production of T-90 tanks, SU-30MKI fighters, AK-203 assault rifles, and a lot of other weapons and parts in India is fully in line with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives,” he said.
“The unique joint venture on supersonic cruise missile BrahMos is a role model. Russia and India are committed to all agreements, including the contract for the advanced S-400 Triumf air defence systems that is being carried out.”
India signed a deal with Russia in October 2018 to buy five S-400 air defence missile systems for $5 billion. This was despite a warning from the US that going through with the deal could lead to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Russia started sending the first regiment of the missile systems in December 2021. It has already been put in place to protect parts of the northern border with China and the border with Pakistan.
