NewsGate Press Network

By Vineet Dikshit

Amidst the ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, the new Russian ambassador to India has commented that India need not worry about its defence industry’s cooperation and commitment that has been made to last through 2031.

Ambassador Denis Alipov comments have appeared in media after he gave an interview to Rossiya 24, a state-owned Russian-language news channel broadcasting from Moscow.

Mr Alipov was recently appointed as Russia’s new ambassador in January 2022.

He is a career diplomat and dedicated India specialist with decades of experience. During the tenure of the Russian ambassador, Alexander Kadakin, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in the Russian embassy in Delhi.

Ambassador Denis has also worked as the Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department.

In his interview with Rossiya 24 he said   – “I don’t think, I can even say that I’m sure that the current situation will not affect or minimally affect our defense industry cooperation because many Russian companies operating in the military-industrial complex in the field of cooperation with India have long been under unilateral sanctions by the United States earlier than others. And the expansion of restrictions that was caused by the situation in Ukraine does not fundamentally change anything”.

Deliveries of Russian air defense systems S-400 to India are going according to plan, the sanctions will not affect the fulfillment of the contract, Alipov said.

“As for the deliveries of S-400 systems specifically, they are going according to plan, and the restrictions that are now additionally imposed on us will in no way affect the deliveries and completion of this contract,”he said.

Russia’s readiness to offer India the latest anti-aircraft missile systems S-500 remains in force, Alipov said.

“I don’t know about any reaction of the Indian side on this matter. But [Russian Deputy Prime Minister] Yuri Borisov said, and I can confirm that if India shows interest in acquiring S-500 systems, then such a wish will be most carefully studied and considered from our side. But, as far as I know, at this stage there are no any specific talks,” the ambassador said.