Indian Ambassador to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma spoke about how Russian-Indian relations had changed over the past three years. He also discussed the future prospects for ties between the two nations, including in the military realm.

India-Russia ties in defence, energy sectors strong, says envoy Bala Venkatesh Varma

Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma has called the S-400 missile defence system ''the best in the world''.

Speaking to a Russian daily, the envoy said, "We have no doubt that the S-400 is the best anti-aircraft missile system in the world. India is glad to have S-400, made in Russia,&nbsp;in its armed forces."

He was confident that "fulfilment of contractual obligations will continue in accordance with the provisions of the document"

India will be getting <a href="wionews.com/india-news/russias-s-400-missile-defence-system-to-delivered-in-april-2023-india-236683">all the units of Russian S-400 by April 2023</a>.&nbsp;The announcement was made by the minister of the state of defence Sripad Naik in a written statement in Lok Sabha.

India had signed the missile deal in October 2018 during Russian President Putin's visit. The deal was worth $5 billion ensuring the advanced long-range surface-to-air missile would become a key weapon in India's arsenal.

However, the Trump administration had warned that the deal would have serious implications for India even though no specific details were put forward by the US.

India feared US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia, but it did not transpire after Indian officials communicated India's defence requirements to Trump's officials.

The Indian government in the Parliament said that ''It takes Sovereign decisions based on threat perception, operational and technological aspects to keep the Armed Forces in a state of readiness to meet the entire spectrum of security challenges."

India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar will be visiting Moscow by the end of August during which he will be meeting Russian foreign minister&nbsp;Sergey Lavrov.

Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma has called the S-400 missile defence system ''the best in the world''. Speaking to a Russian daily, the envoy said, "We have no doubt that the S-400 is the best anti-aircraft missile system in the world.

Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma has called the S-400 missile defence system ''the best in the world''. Speaking to a Russian daily, the envoy said, "We have no doubt that the S-400 is the best anti-aircraft missile system in the world. India is glad to have S-400, made in Russia, in its armed forces." He was confident that "fulfilment of contractual obligations will continue in accordance with the provisions of the document" India will be getting all the units of Russian S-400 by April 2023. The announcement was made by the minister of the state of defence Sripad Naik in a written statement in Lok Sabha. India had signed the missile deal in October 2018 during Russian President Putin's visit. The deal was worth $5 billion ensuring the advanced long-range surface-to-air missile would become a key weapon in India's arsenal. However, the Trump administration had warned that the deal would have serious implications for India even though no specific details were put forward by the US. India feared US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia, but it did not transpire after Indian officials communicated India's defence requirements to Trump's officials. The Indian government in the Parliament said that ''It takes Sovereign decisions based on threat perception, operational and technological aspects to keep the Armed Forces in a state of readiness to meet the entire spectrum of security challenges." India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar will be visiting Moscow by the end of August during which he will be meeting Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.

S-400 is the best anti-aircraft missile system in world: Indian envoy to Russia

India has highlighted to Russia how a MiG-21 brought down a Pakistani F-16 in its recent skirmish with Pakistan.&nbsp;

The Mig-21 is a Russian-made plane first produced in 1959. The F-16 is American-made and was first produced in 1978.&nbsp;

In an interview to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Indian Ambassador to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma said, &nbsp;"India was forced to defend its interests, including through the use of MiG-21 fighter aircraft supplied by Russia, which brought down the Pakistani F-16."

In response to India's counter-terrorism operation in Pakistan on Tuesday, Islamabad launched a large-scale air force raid into Indian airspace. The Pakistani operation was aimed at Indian military installations.

In the skirmish that followed, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16. Abhinandan's MiG-21 Bison was later shot down and he was captured.&nbsp;

The MiG-21 Bison is a single engine, single-seater, multi-role fighter aircraft of Russian origin and forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force.

India is the largest operator of the MiG-21, which also played an important role in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Ambassador Varma also clarified that there is no Russian offer to mediate between India and Pakistan and even if Moscow proposes one, New Delhi will not accept it.

"I want to emphasise that we did not receive a formal offer of mediation. And even we do, we will not accept it. So far, no country has offered to mediate in resolving the conflict," Varma said.&nbsp;

Pakistan's Foreign Office said Friday, after a call by Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, that Moscow had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan.

Varma, in the interview, thanked Moscow for its support to a proposal last week to list Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief as an international terrorist under the United Nations Security Council 1267 committee.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to PM Modi on Thursday expressing his deep condolences on the Pulwama terror attack and conveying his solidarity with New Delhi in its fight against terrorism.

President Putin also invited Prime Minister Modi to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok later this year. This is for the second time this year, PM Modi and President Putin spoke to each other.

India has highlighted to Russia how a MiG-21 brought down a Pakistani F-16 in its recent skirmish with Pakistan. The Mig-21 is a Russian-made plane first produced in 1959.

India has highlighted to Russia how a MiG-21 brought down a Pakistani F-16 in its recent skirmish with Pakistan. The Mig-21 is a Russian-made plane first produced in 1959. The F-16 is American-made and was first produced in 1978. In an interview to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Indian Ambassador to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma said, "India was forced to defend its interests, including through the use of MiG-21 fighter aircraft supplied by Russia, which brought down the Pakistani F-16." In response to India's counter-terrorism operation in Pakistan on Tuesday, Islamabad launched a large-scale air force raid into Indian airspace. The Pakistani operation was aimed at Indian military installations. In the skirmish that followed, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16. Abhinandan's MiG-21 Bison was later shot down and he was captured. The MiG-21 Bison is a single engine, single-seater, multi-role fighter aircraft of Russian origin and forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force. India is the largest operator of the MiG-21, which also played an important role in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Ambassador Varma also clarified that there is no Russian offer to mediate between India and Pakistan and even if Moscow proposes one, New Delhi will not accept it. "I want to emphasise that we did not receive a formal offer of mediation. And even we do, we will not accept it. So far, no country has offered to mediate in resolving the conflict," Varma said. Pakistan's Foreign Office said Friday, after a call by Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, that Moscow had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan. Varma, in the interview, thanked Moscow for its support to a proposal last week to list Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief as an international terrorist under the United Nations Security Council 1267 committee. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to PM Modi on Thursday expressing his deep condolences on the Pulwama terror attack and conveying his solidarity with New Delhi in its fight against terrorism. President Putin also invited Prime Minister Modi to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok later this year. This is for the second time this year, PM Modi and President Putin spoke to each other.

Russia has not offered to mediate between India & Pakistan: Indian envoy to Russia