Western sanctions will not impact supply of S-400 missile systems to India: Russia
New Delhi, Mar 3: Russia on Wednesday said there will be no impact of the Western sanctions against it on the supply of S-400 missile systems to India.
At a media briefing, Russian Ambassador-designate Denis Alipov also referred to a bilateral mechanism to do business in national currencies.
"As regards the S-400 deal, be rest assured that it will not be impacted in any way. It is a 100 per cent surety.... As regards the overall trade and economic cooperation, we will see what will be the ultimate impact of those severe restrictions that are being imposed," he said.
The Western countries have imposed severe sanctions on Russia in the last few days following its military invasion of Ukraine.
In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions.
Russia has already started the supply of the missile systems.
To a question on the impact of the sanctions on bilateral trade, Alipov said it will largely depend on the readiness of the "Indian partners" to continue with the engagement.
"We have bilateral mechanisms and means of doing business in national currencies. Much will depend on the readiness of the Indian partners to continue the business because some of them are over-cautious as regards their exposure to the US and European markets," he said.
Replying to a question on whether the Western sanctions and the conflict in Ukraine will impact the overall delivery of key defence equipment to India, Alipov said there are mechanisms in place to offset the impact of the restrictions.
"Russia has always risen from the ashes. It will rise again. Do not have any doubt about that. We have taken steps to secure ourselves," he said.
"Our economy is stable and I believe we will withstand the pressure that we are experiencing and will experience in the future," the Russian ambassador-designate added.
"As regards the bilateral trade in defence, we have the mechanism of cooperation and transactions independent of western mechanisms," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
JD(S) warns of protest over rising drug menace in Karnataka
Bengaluru: The Janata Dal (Secular) on Monday warned of launching a state-wide protest against the Karnataka government, accusing it of failing to curb the growing drug menace in the state.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, reacting to a recent case in which the Maharashtra Anti-Narcotics Task Force busted drug manufacturing units in Bengaluru the regional party accused the state government of failing to prevent the drug menace in the state.
In a statement, JD(S) youth leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy reportedly said, “The state government has completely failed to prevent the drug menace in the state. Hence, the police from another state had to come.”
Nikhil also criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, taking a swipe at what he described as the government’s misplaced priorities.
Is the state’s Home Department reserved only for dinner and breakfast meetings? If the government further fails to initiate action against the drug mafia, we will have to launch a massive protest, he warned.
