Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday claimed that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were “responsible” leaders, and said on Saturday that they were both capable of solving problems between the two countries, and that it is important that no “extra-regional power” should intervene in the process.
As Russia publicly criticized the Quad, the four-nation grouping made up of India, the United States, Japan and Australia, Putin also told PTI that it was not up to Moscow to judge how a nation should participate in an initiative to what extent they should develop their relationships with other countries, but no partnership should aim to make friends against others.
The Russian President’s comments on Moscow’s position on Quad and India’s participation in the group were a disguised reference to Chinese claims that the group wanted to curb Beijing’s influence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
He also claimed that there were no “contradictions” in Russia’s partnership with India and Moscow-Beijing relations.
“Yes, I know there are some problems related to India-China relations, but there are always many problems between neighboring countries, but I know the attitude of both the Indian Prime Minister and the Chinese President. They are very responsible . ” They and people treat each other sincerely and with the utmost respect, and I believe that they will always come up with a solution to any problem they face.
“But it is important that no other extra-regional power interferes,” the Russian President told the PTI during a virtual interaction via a translator.
It has been more than a year since the military stalemate between China and India broke out in eastern Ladakh on May 5, 2020, with deaths on both sides for the first time in 45 years. They have made limited progress in breaking up Lake Pangong, while negotiations on similar moves have stalled at other points of friction.
When asked about the growing closeness between Russia and China and whether this will affect Indo-Russian security and defense cooperation, Putin said India-Russia relations would develop fairly quickly, fairly successfully on the basis of “trust.” “.
“We really appreciate such a high level of cooperation with our Indian friends. These relationships are strategic. They cover a whole range of ways in which we work together in the fields of business, energy and high tech. In defense, and I’m not just “talking about buying Russian weapons … we have very deep, trust-based relationships with India,” he said.
Putin also claimed that India is Russia’s only partner to work with to “develop and manufacture advanced weapons systems and technologies, especially in India, but our cooperation does not end there as our cooperation is complex”.
While interacting with selected top editors from major international news outlets, including from the US, India, UK, Germany and France, Putin responded to far-reaching questions, including Russia-US relations, the pandemic situation, US sanctions against Russia and the Gaza question.
When asked about the criticism of the Quad as ‘Asian NATO’ by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his opinion on India’s participation in the group, Putin said: “We do not take part in the Quad, it is not my place to pass on my assessment to another country Participate in any initiative because every sovereign nation has the right to choose with whom and to what extent to build its relationships. I just believe that any partnership between countries should aim to make friends with everyone, no. “
Before his maiden summit with US President Joe Biden in Geneva on June 16, the Russian President also said that he was not expecting a “breakthrough”.
“We don’t take steps first – I’m talking about the steps that have made our relationship worse. It was not we who imposed sanctions on us, but the United States has done so on every opportunity and even without explanation, just because our country” exists ” he said.
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