India Narrative

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday that Russia was still ready to provide a safe passage for civilians from the besieged Azovstal steel works in the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, according to a Kremlin statement. It said Putin in a telephonic conversation with Bennett also said that Kyiv should order Ukrainian troops holding out in the vast Azovstal plant to lay down their weapons. The commander of the Ukrainian forces has in social media posts stated that his troops are running out of ammunition and food but the top authorities in Kyiv have ordered him to stay put in his position. Some civilians have made it to safety through humanitarian corridors allowed by the Russian forces but there are more still inside. The Kremlin has denied that Russian forces were storming the plant, referring to an April 21 order from Putin that they should seal it off but not venture inside its huge network of underground tunnels. Russian President Vladim

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that "despite Kyiv's inconsistency and unpreparedness for serious work", Moscow is still open to dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.   In a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday evening, Putin also accused the European Union member states of ignoring the "war crimes" of the Ukrainian security forces. This was the first interaction between the two leaders after Macron was re-elected as head of state after his victory in the recent presidential elections. Both Presidents have exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine several times since February 24, the day Russia began its 'special military operation' in the neighbouring country. As Putin congratulated Macron on his election triumph, he detailed the course of the military operation, including the liberation of Mariupol and the evacuation of civilians "held by the nationalists" at the Azovstal plant i

Russia has announced the formation of a new anti-aircraft missile regiment in the Republic of Khakassia located in the southwestern part of Eastern Siberia - a region close to Mongolia which is not only rich in natural resources but also houses the country's largest hydropower plant. "An anti-aircraft missile regiment armed with Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and gun systems will be formed in the Republic of Khakassia in 2022. The personnel of the military unit will be on alert for the air defence of the region," the Russian Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday. The Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and cannon system is designed for air defence of small military and administrative-industrial facilities, areas from aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and precision weapons. It is also deployed for strengthening the air defence groups in repelling massive airstrikes. The S-400 'Triumph' air defence missile system The complex armament, detailed the Press Servic

  In a short while Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi .  The visit is being watched with particular interest on both sides, coming as it does at a particularly critical time - volatile Taliban rule in Afghanistan, worsening NATO/Ukraine – Russia relations, India-China tensions, India’s inclusion in the QUAD, and the new geopolitical move with AUKUS. Especially significant is  the fact that given its closeness to the US, India is intent on going ahead with its purchase of S 400 TRIUMF missiles, with the threat of CAATSA (though improbable) hanging over it. Turkey has faced similar sanctions from the US over its purchase of the same missile system from Russia. During President Putin’s visit the India-Russia 2+2 dialogue involving the foreign and defence ministers on both sides, which replicates the India-US  2+2 dialogue, has already begun. The timing of the visit, however, is significant and interesting historically. Fifty years ago on 6t