The United States is far from pleased with India’s slew of major deals with Russia in the wake of President Vladimir Putin’s visit, and is particularly “troubled” by reports that Crimean leader Sergey Aksyonov has accompanied him to New Delhi.
Russia has been under a sweeping US-led Western sanctions regime ever since its invasion of Ukraine followed by annexation of Crimea in March this year, and Washington has not taken kindly to the reports that Putin has taken Aksyonov along as a part of his delegation to New Delhi.
“We are troubled by reports that the delegation accompanying Putin had — may have included Sergey Aksyonov. We understand that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said they were not officially aware of his visit or his participation in the delegation, I guess I should convey. We’re seeking further clarification on that,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.
Psaki sought to hit out at Putin, rather than blame India. “I don’t think we have any reason to believe they (the Government of India) were aware. But that’s all the information I have at this point,” Psaki said, while replying to a volley of questions on this subject.
“What I’m conveying is that our understanding is that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs was not aware that he (Aksyonov) would be part of the delegation,” she said.
India “does not support and has been clear they don’t support the annexation of Crimea”, Psaki said in reply to another question, adding: “But beyond that, I don’t think I’d put it in the terms of a violation.”
As for the raft of deals that India has signed with Russia, including defence and nuclear power, the State Department spokesperson commented that it’s not time for a “business as usual” approach with Moscow.
“We’ve seen press reporting on India concluding business, nuclear, and defense deals with Russia, but not confirmation of those agreements or specifics of what those agreements would entail,” Psaki said, adding: “Our view remains that it’s not time as — for business as usual with Russia. But beyond that, we’d have to take a closer look at what these agreements entail.”