MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has assured India that all agreements concerning energy supplies will be fully honoured, despite facing external pressures and unfair competition. He emphasized that the strong relationship between India and Russia is founded on deep friendship and mutual trust, indicating no possibility of their paths diverging.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Minister Lavrov made these assurances in an interview with Russia Today-India ahead of his visit to New Delhi. He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as one of the most energetic and effective leaders globally.
“I can guarantee that India’s interests as they apply to Russian supplies will not suffer. We will do everything to ensure that this unfair and dishonest competition does not damage our agreements,” Lavrov stated. He highlighted Russia’s consistent track record of fulfilling its energy supply obligations to India and other international partners.
Lavrov pointed to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant as a prime example of successful bilateral cooperation, noting that it significantly contributes to India’s energy needs. Construction of additional units for the plant is ongoing, and Russia continues to supply essential hydrocarbons, including gas, oil, and coal, to meet India’s growing energy demands. The Kudankulam plant, located in Tamil Nadu, began construction in March 2002 and has been operating at its designed capacity of 1,000 MW since February 2016. Full operational capacity for the plant is projected for 2027.
Speaking about Prime Minister Modi, Lavrov remarked, “He possesses great energy and channels it towards extremely important goals such as achieving maximum sovereignty across all spheres: the economy, the military, defence, culture, and the preservation of India’s civilisational wealth, which is unmatched by any other country.”
The Russian Foreign Minister elaborated on the profound nature of India-Russia relations, stating, “A situation where our paths diverge simply does not exist – it is unthinkable. We began our conversation with the very foundation of Russian-Indian relations: friendship.” He invoked the traditional slogan ‘Hindi-Rusi bhai bhai’ (Indians and Russians are brothers), asserting that it has transcended a mere slogan to become an integral part of their shared culture.
Lavrov further noted the significant popularity of Indian cinema and television series in Russia, underscoring the robust cultural ties. He detailed the multifaceted nature of their partnership, which encompasses economic cooperation, joint energy production, military collaboration, nuclear energy development, cultural exchanges, and a high level of political dialogue characterized by unprecedented trust. “All of it is rock solid,” he affirmed.
Addressing concerns about the future of this friendship, Lavrov assured that it remains secure. He acknowledged the ongoing attempts by some external actors to undermine these relations by creating exclusive structures and imposing their own rules of engagement with Russia. “We see all of that, and so do our Indian friends. That makes it all the more valuable that those attempts keep failing,” he added.
During his visit to New Delhi, Minister Lavrov is scheduled to hold discussions with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and participate in the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the ministers would exchange views on pressing international and regional issues, with particular focus expected on the situation in the Middle East. Cooperation within international forums such as the UN, BRICS, and the G20 will also be a key agenda item.
The agenda for the bilateral talks includes expanding trade volumes, enhancing sustainable transport and logistics networks, establishing financial channels resilient to unlawful external pressure, deepening energy cooperation, and intensifying collaboration in science and space technology, according to the Ministry.
The Chenab Times News Desk