Russia has sent India a list of more than 500 products, including parts for cars, aircraft, and trains, as sanctions squeeze Russia’s ability to keep vital industries running.
The version which has been seen by Reuters in New Delhi is provisional and it is unclear how many of the items will eventually be exported and in what quantity, but an Indian government source said the request was unusual in its scope.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has not joined Western countries in openly criticizing Moscow for the war in Ukraine, but it has been keen to keep its ties with Russia strong.
The request is expected to be discussed at a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Monday between Indian officials and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. The source said the request was unusual in its scope and the government would discuss how to respond.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has not joined Western countries in openly criticizing Moscow for the war in Ukraine, and has sharply increased purchases of Russian oil that have cushioned it from some of the impacts of sanctions.
He was accompanied on the visit by senior officials in charge of agriculture, petroleum and natural gas, ports and shipping, finance, chemicals and fertilizer, and trade – which he said showed the importance of ties with Russia