India-Russia ties strained due to Ukraine, Moscow envoy admits
DIPLOMAT BLAMES SANCTIONS BY ‘COLLECTIVE WEST’ FOR TENSION
RUSSIA on Monday (6) said its ties with India are under some “stress” due to the current geo-political climate, as Moscow sought to blame the “arrogant” approach of the US-led West on the Ukraine conflict, including imposing economic sanctions against Russia.
Russia’s ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, also accused the US of “actively” exploiting the “contradictions” between India and China to its advantage.
Moscow and New Delhi’s mutual trust and confidence – based on their historic ties – would help both sides deal with the change in the relationship, he said.
Alipov added that Moscow will maintain the levels of exports, including of petroleum products, to India despite the Western price cap on Russian crude oil.
Russia wants to further diversify its relations with India, the ambassador said, asserting that bilateral ties were aimed at meeting the aspirations of both nations.
“Today, however, our ties are under stress as we face tectonic geo-political shifts that have been underway for quite some time, but accelerated last year by crossing the red lines in Europe; not by us, but by the so-called collective West led by the US, (which is) by far the most arrogant and belligerent,” he said.
Alipov, who was speaking during a conference on India-Russia ties, admitted the western sanctions have disrupted the transaction and logistics mechanisms.
“When I spoke about stress, I specifically meant economic relations. The sanctions that interfered... they disrupted the transaction mechanisms and the logistics mechanisms,” he said. “On all these issues, both sides are in very close dialogue. They are very precise and concrete suggestions and a professional exchange of ideas and proposals from both sides.”
Talking about bilateral trade and Western sanctions, he said the rupee-rouble mechanism has been established for economic engagement.
“The Vostro accounts have been opened. The mechanism for rupee-rouble trade has been established. It is now a matter for the banks to use it,” he said.
Alipov said the Indian banks were “over-cautious” to use the mechanism, though he said it would not lead to restrictions from the US.
“But that’s the fear. The banks would like to be on the safe side. It will take some more time for the knowledge that it is not at all detrimental for the Indian banking system,” he added.
Alipov said Moscow wanted to expand its economic engagement with Islamabad, as a “weak” Pakistan was not good for the entire region, including India.
In a tweet later, he clarified that he meant a “destabilised” Pakistan was not in the interest of anyone in the region.
The conference on ‘Next Steps in IndiaRussia Strategic Partnership; Old Friends New Horizons’ was organised by the India Writes Network and the Centre for Global India Insights.
Responding to a question, Alipov said Russia would like to see the “normalisation” of India-China relations since it would benefit global security, and not just in the Asian region.
“We understand there are very serious impediments to that, a very serious border problem between the two countries,” he said. “We had a border problem with China, an armed conflict with the Chinese at some stage... , it took us around 40 years to negotiate but ultimately this is the only way to find a solution.
“I am not going to suggest what India or China should do... This is entirely a bilateral matter between India and China and we don’t interfere with that.
“But the sooner there is a normalisation between the two countries, the better for the whole world. We will do the utmost to facilitate (that) if our efforts are needed,” Alipov added.
Discussing Russia’s ties with India, he said, “Internationally, we have always been on the same page, again something very contrasting with the US approach to India. Unlike them (the US), we don’t need to explain to each other and the world that close partnership between us was not possible in the past for some reason.”
Alipov claimed the approach of the US towards India could change if it finds a new rapprochement with China or New Delhi mends its relationship with Beijing. “That, from the US perspective, will be a disaster,” he said. “But from ours, and I believe from India’s and China’s point of view, it would be the most favourable outcome for the world at large.
“Any of these scenarios, America’s hegemony would suffer. That is why it actively exploits the contradictions between India and China to its advantage.”
The ambassador said Russia supported India’s growing global role and its aspirations to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
India has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has maintained that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.