Johnson to tackle India’s ties to Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to help move India away from its dependence on Russia by expanding economic and defence ties, officials said yesterday. ‘‘Our relations have never been as strong or as good between us as they are now,’’ Johnson told reporters at a ceremonial reception in the forecourt of the presidential palace in NewDelhi yesterday. Johnson is also expected to bring up the situation in Ukraine during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Soon after his arrival in India on Thursday, Johnson said he was aware of the close ties that India and Russia have shared. Modi has called the situation in Ukraine ‘‘very worrying’’ and has appealed to both sides for peace. While India has condemned the killings of civilians in Ukraine, it has so far not criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin, and abstained when the UN General Assembly voted this month to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council.