Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke again with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Ukraine. On Monday, the twelfth day of the war, the two leaders talked on the phone for about 50 minutes. According to a source in the Prime Minister's Office, Modi has asked Putin to hold direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war.
Modi spoke to Putin on the phone for the third time in the wake of the Ukraine crisis. The two spoke for the second time since the Russian president announced a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. Before speaking with Putin, the prime minister also had a 35-minute phone conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Modi sought the help of the Ukrainian government in rescuing about 600 Indian students in the war-torn city of Sumi in eastern Ukraine.
The Modi-Putin talks also focused on the safe repatriation of Indians stranded in war-torn cities in Ukraine. Kremlin residents have assured New Delhi of "full cooperation". Welcoming the war in Belarus, Modi called on Putin to hold direct talks with the President of Ukraine. Incidentally, last week Zelensky also wanted to talk directly with Putin to restore peace.
The supply of warplanes, tanks, and armored vehicles from Russia to India was disrupted due to the war situation in Ukraine. The supply of short-range anti-aircraft missiles, helicopters, and other military equipment could be halted. A source in the Ministry of Defense said this was a threat.
Over the past few years, India has been importing T-90 tanks, BMP-2 armored vehicles, and MiG-29 fighter jets from Russia. Some of the equipment needed for their maintenance also comes from Russia. But the war in Ukraine could hamper that process, according to Defense Ministry sources. The import of 9K36 Igla short-range anti-aircraft missiles from Russia could also come to a halt.
New Delhi has also discussed the purchase of KA-226 helicopters with Moscow during Narendra Modi's tenure. Last year, however, the central government slowed down the process of purchasing medium-to-use military helicopters from abroad to take policy decisions to accelerate the 'Make in India' project in the defense sector, a defense ministry official said.
Russia's ambassador to India, Denis Olipov, said last week that Russia would not delay the supply of S-400 Triumph missiles to India due to the war in Ukraine. Two S-400 anti-missile systems have already arrived in India from Russia. Three more are expected to arrive next April.
In early 2019, then-US President Donald Trump said that if the S-400 deal with Russia was scrapped, India would have the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAD) and Patriot-3 missile defense system. But judging by its technological superiority, New Delhi is adamant in its decision to buy the S-400.
Russia will not delay the supply of S-400 Triumph missiles to India due to the war situation in Ukraine. Russia's ambassador to India Denis Olipov made the announcement on Wednesday. "The Moscow-New Delhi agreement on this (S-400 supply) does not depend on any impediment," he said. This agreement is dependent on a continuous process. "
Two S-400s have already arrived in India from Russia. Three more are expected to arrive next April. Incidentally, the S-400 was first included in the Russian forces in 2006. New Delhi contacted Moscow in 2014 to purchase the anti-missile system. India then decided to buy S-400 from Russia, ignoring the US warning. During Putin's visit to Delhi in October 2016, an agreement worth around Rs 40,000 crore was signed in this regard.
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