Ukraine crisis: Will continue to work with India in defence sector, says Russian envoy

Whether the Western sanctions will adversely impact India-Russia defence cooperation, including the supply of S-400 missile systems, Babushkin said that “all the projects will continue”.

He welcomed India’s “independent position” on the Ukraine crisis, saying its views on the issue at the UN Security Council were reflective of the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between the two countries.

The Russian diplomat said India and Russia don’t “threaten” each other with unilateral sanctions and don’t interfere in each other’s domestic affairs. “We have very strong and trusted cooperation with India. The Western sanctions will negatively affect the Russian economy and banking system and punitive measures will create instability in the global economy as they will lead to an atmosphere of distrust and fear,” he added.

India, he said, has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and it takes an “independent and balanced” approach to world affairs.

On the overall crisis in Ukraine, the Russian diplomat alleged that Western powers had been trying to destabilise the region. “The NATO has been a source of instability and that the Western countries are trying to exert more pressure on Russia,” he claimed.

Goa NRI Commissioner writes to MEA

Meanwhile, former MP and Goa’s commissioner for NRI affairs Narendra Sawaikar on Wednesday wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, saying that Goans living in Ukraine were anxious to temporarily return to India until normalcy is restored in the country.

Sawaikar said his office had begun to receive requests for help and assistance for the safe return of Goans in Ukraine amid the prevailing tension in the country.

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