New Delhi, December 3 (ANI): Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, European Union Envoy to India Herve Delphin said the EU views Russia as an aggressor and urged India to factor that reality into its calculations.
“There is a clear aggressor. Russia has been invading a neighbouring country. We have drones flying off, subsea cables cut off. All is documented. So, Russia is an aggressor, not just towards a country which has been invaded, but has really declared itself hostile to Europe’s interests. So I think India has to factor that in,” Delphin said in the national capital.
He added that while European countries would not act in ways that harm India’s core security interests, they expect reciprocity from India toward Europe. “The EU has grown its relationship with India in the past years, despite the Russian question,” he noted, stressing that security must be central to EU-India ties.
Delphin said the security predicament should be understood at the core of the relationship, but that the EU and India have many areas for cooperation despite the geopolitical realities.
His remarks came soon after reports of a nearly five-hour meeting between Putin and a US delegation including US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; Russian outlets cited presidential aide Yuri Ushakov saying no compromise on Ukraine was reached.
Putin is due in India on December 4-5 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at an investment forum in Moscow, Putin said Russia aims to elevate cooperation with China and India to a “qualitatively new level” by strengthening the technological component across energy, industry, space, agriculture and other sectors.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the sale of additional S-400 long-range air-defence systems could be discussed during the visit. “Highly on the agenda, and this could be discussed. Our military industry is working pretty well. Russian arms 36% in Indian armed forces and hopefully will continue,” he said.
Peskov also indicated talks on the Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter could take place, calling the SU-57 “the best plane in the world” and saying it “will be on the agenda.” He highlighted defence cooperation such as the BrahMos missile program as examples of technology exchange that pave the way for future collaboration.
Peskov added there was a possibility of an agreement on nuclear energy between India and Russia during the visit. (ANI)
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