‘Committed to S-400 missile deal with India’

Russia and India are committed to adhering to timelines and other obligations under the S-400 missile deal, Russian ambassador Nikolay Kudashev said on Wednesday amid apprehensions of possible US sanctions against New Delhi over procurement of the weapons systems. The envoy also said that both Russia and India do not recognise bilateral sanctions as they are “illegal tools” of “unlawful and unfair” competition and pressure.

During his visit to India last month, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said there was no discussion with defence minister Rajnath Singh on the possibility of American sanctions against India over its S-400 deal with Russia as there has been no delivery of the missiles.

“Together with India, we do not recognise bilateral sanctions as they are illegal tools of unlawful and unfair, should I say, competition, pressure and even blackmail. It was clearly stated by the two foreign ministers in the course of their exchange,” Kudashev said.

“With regard to S-400 and broader agreements, both sides are committed to the agreed timelines,” he added.

The US has already imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Actfor purchase of S- 400 missile defences from Russia. India made the first tranche of payment of around $800 million to Russia in 2019. The S- 400 is Russia’s most advanced longrange surface-to-air missile defence system.The supply of S-400 missiles to India from Russia is expected to begin later this year.