Russia described as illegal and unacceptable the US move to impose 100% tariffs on nations importing Russian oil, while confirming another bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Putin is travelling to India this week for his first overseas participation in a BRICS summit since the Russia-Ukraine war started in Feb 2022.Ahead of the visit, a Kremlin spokesperson said India’s energy imports from Russia were setting new records and both countries also had similar positions on the war. He welcomed India’s intention to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict.India will host the BRICS summit on Sept 12-13. While China is yet to officially confirm President Xi Jinping’s participation, diplomatic sources said he’s likely to arrive Saturday and have a bilateral meet with Modi the same day.
India & Russia exploring cooperation on rare earths
Modi and Putin had met on Aug 31 on the margins of the SCO summit in Bishkek. In their bilateral meeting Friday, the two will look to ramp up trade, energy and defence ties. Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidential spokesperson, said that both sides are exploring cooperation on rare earths and also the sale of Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jets to India.Against the backdrop of Modi’s message to Putin that it was high time the “endless” war was brought to an end, the official said India’s position on Ukraine was aligned with Moscow’s stand.“We know India’s position on the Ukrainian conflict, and to a great extent… it corresponds with our own position, because we do want the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict by peaceful means, and Russia is open to this process,” Peskov said.
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He denied that Brics was considering de-dollarisation but said certain countries were using their national currencies as tools of political oppression and called the proposed US sanctions illegal and unacceptable.Committing to further expanding energy cooperation with India, the official said India’s energy imports from Russia are at a record high. “I don’t want to give you any figures for understandable reasons, but every month we have a new record,” he said, briefing journalists virtually ahead of Putin’s visit.The official also said that delivery of Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defence systems to India in 2026 was also on the agenda. “Russia is capable of fulfilling its obligations, and they will be fulfilled. This issue is being mentioned during the conversations of our two leaders,” said Peskov.
