New Delhi: Russia welcomed the recent rapprochement between India and China over their border stand-off following last week’s meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, while urging that New Delhi should not feel pressured to maintain normal economic relations solely with Western bloc nations.
“It is a positive development in India-China bilateral ties,” Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, told reporters. He also stated that Russia did not play a role in arranging the meeting, but we are happy that it took place in Kazan”. “We wholeheartedly welcome the meeting,” he added.
On October 23, Modi and Xi held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, marking their first formal discussion in five years. After the meeting, both sides issued separate press statements indicating they had reached an understanding on the last two unresolved friction points in eastern Ladakh from the stand-off that began in April-May 2020.
A day later, US ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti had welcomed the Sino-India deal, stating that “it’s a good day in the Indo-Pacific when any resolution of conflict is reached as in this breakthrough”. However, he also emphasised that the issue of territorial integrity, which India reportedly upheld at the LAC with China, should apply “not just for one part of the world but all parts of the world,” referencing the Ukraine war.
While Russia and India have traditionally maintained close relations, Moscow’s ties with Beijing have grown steadily stronger following its estrangement from the West.
Since the beginning of the stand-off, Moscow has insisted on taking a neutral position and not commented on it. “We have been very consistent that we see this is a bilateral matter between India and China. We do not want to get involved in the resolution of bilateral disputes between the two countries,” Alipov had said in September 2022.
Alipov envoy highlighted Russia’s approach by contrasting it with unnamed countries that “only encourage the suspicions of India towards China and of China towards India on territorial disputes.”
In February 2023, the Russian envoy had said that “sooner there is a normalisation between the two countries, the better for the whole world”.
“We understand there are serious impediments to that, a very serious border problem between the two countries,” he said. Drawing on Russia’s own land border conflict with China, which took 40 years to resolve, he noted that “to compromise” is the only way forward.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Alipov emphasised the need for Indian entities to be bolder in engaging with Russia despite the potential threat of US unilateral sanctions.
“Both are considering a Ruble-rupee trade mechanism,” he stated. “I’m not a financial expert, but currently, there is no direct exchange of rupees and rubles. The issue isn’t the exchange rate; the primary challenge is the excessive caution of Indian banks regarding transactions with Russia.”
He attributed this hesitation to pressure from the United States. Alipov highlighted that “the US has been meticulous in tracking transactions between India and Russia, even threatening sanctions.”
Alipov further questioned why India should restrict its partnerships to only US-aligned countries. “Today it is necessary for India to settle its relationship with Russia; tomorrow the US might ask India to curb its relationship with Bangladesh, for example. There could be an endless list of countries the US decides upon,” he asserted.
He hoped that the “understanding among various banking communities in India would grow, recognising it is safe and correct to work with various countries without fearing coercive measures from the US.”
“India does not support those sanctions,” Alipov said, adding that this position should be maintained.
