Post #29583

🎙Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's interview with Indian news portal Firstpost(April 25, 2026) Read in full ❓ Question: Russia plays a huge role in India’s energy security. In light of the growing tensions in West Asia, how do you see Russia’s role in ensuring India’s resilience to global oil price shocks in 2027? 💬Maria Zakharova: Our country is making a weighty contribution to ensuring India’s energy security by supplying hydrocarbons on favourable terms and building the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. The possibility of implementing a project to build a new Russian-designed NPP on Indian territory is under discussion. Other promising options for expanding energy cooperation are also being explored. Russian petroleum has an important place in the structure of bilateral trade, and we plan to expand petroleum exports, which meets the interests of both countries. Russian energy operators make sure that their Indian counterparts’ requests for petroleum shipments are fulfilled as soon as possible. We regard long-term export contracts as the main instrument for protecting our partners from oil price fluctuations caused by global and regional instability. Such agreements make it possible to receive hydrocarbons over the long term on the most favourable terms and at a fixed price. ❓ Question: Russia has been India’s most reliable defence partner for decades. Could you comment on how the two countries ensure uninterrupted defence cooperation and supplies in these turbulent times? 💬Maria Zakharova: Our time-tested military-technical cooperation is comprehensive, based on mutual trust and unaffected by foreign policy fluctuations. The bilateral Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation and its working groups meet every year. The intensity of military delegation exchanges has been growing year after year. Amid intensifying international competition, Russia intends to continue expanding military-technical cooperation with New Delhi. Supplies of military products across a broad range for all branches of India’s armed forces are carried out within mutually agreed timeframes. We readily share the latest defence technologies with our Indian partners. In India, in particular, the Russian-Indian company BrahMos, which manufactures missile systems, is operating successfully, and serial production of AK-203 assault rifles has been organised at the relevant joint venture. Other key points from the interview: • #RussiaIndia: When building relations with other major centres of power, including the US, our Indian friends always duly take into account the factor of their special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia. • #MiddleEast: The energy route through the Strait of Hormuz functioned uninterrupted until the US-Israeli tandem launched its unprovoked, unlawful and reckless aggressive adventure against Iran. From the very beginning, Russia advocated bringing the conflict back into the political and diplomatic track. We remain ready to assist in resolving this acute international situation. • #BRICS: Over the two decades since its establishment, BRICS has evolved significantly – from an informal dialogue platform into a full-format strategic partnership. Today, the association accounts for a significant share of global GDP, population and natural resources. • #UkrainianCrisis: The goals and objectives of the special military operation set by President Vladimir Putin remain relevant. 👉 A sustainable settlement of the crisis around Ukraine is possible only by addressing its root causes. Ukraine must return to the foundations of its statehood – the non-aligned, neutral, and non-nuclear status.