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Russia holding ‘productive’ talks with countries including India for cooperation in Arctic region

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:28:00 +0000

Russian President Vladimir Putin.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

India is among the countries holding the “most productive” talks with Russia for cooperation in the Arctic region, a senior foreign ministry official said on Thursday (August 13, 2026).

Speaking at the fourth Arctic — Regions Forum, Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the Department of European Problems at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the number of countries wishing to interact with Russia in the high latitudes is steadily growing, state-run TASS news agency reported.

“The most productive dialogue is taking shape with China and India, which not only demonstrate interest in the Arctic agenda but also possess extensive resources for implementing joint projects and initiatives in this area,” Mr. Maslennikov said.

The Arctic region is considered to be above 66 degrees north latitude, which, together with the Antarctic region, represents nearly 90% of the ice sheet of the planet and stores 70% of fresh water source. While the Arctic is a sea surrounded by landmass, Antarctica is a landmass surrounded by sea.

Mr. Maslennikov’s comment came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow’s “friends” India and China, as well as other countries, are showing interest and want to work with Russia for cooperation in the Arctic and the use of the Northern Sea Route.

Mr. Putin stressed the use of the Northern Sea Route amid what he described as rising tensions in the Arctic and the Asia-Pacific regions.

“By the way, tensions are also mounting in the neighbouring Arctic zone…regarding the use of the Northern Sea Route.” “But Russia has always advocated, and continues to confirm its readiness to cooperate in the Arctic and the use of the Northern Sea Route. Of course, within the framework of existing international maritime law,” he was quoted as saying by TASS at Pacific Fleet exercises.

“And those countries that want to work with us are showing interest in it, and these are primarily our friends — China, India, and other countries. They are discussing these issues with us and will certainly welcome joint work with our friends and with all countries that want to participate in this important and very promising initiative to expand global logistics,” Mr. Putin said.

In July, a parliamentary panel in New Delhi recommended that the government consider appointing a “polar ambassador”.

It said that creating such a position will help India project the importance given to these regions in its foreign policy architecture, and also help pursue “polar diplomacy” in a more effective manner.

Most of the Arctic region encompasses territories sovereign to the Arctic nations and is also inhabited by about four million people, of which roughly 10% are indigenous, the panel said.

Published – August 13, 2026 06:57 pm IST

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Watch: Modi and Putin to meet in Delhi today, trade and defence deals likely on the table

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:50:00 +0000

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, marking his first visit in four years and the revival of India–Russia summits. Talks will focus on trade, defence, energy, and investment, with key outcomes expected in Indian exports.

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India’s New Russia-Made Warship Comes With Ukrainian Engines. How It Happened

admin — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:01:45 +0000

Moscow:

Despite the years-long war between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow and Kiev worked separately for a common cause – to manufacture an Indian Navy warship, which was handed over to New Delhi on Monday when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow for a top-level visit.

The frigate – INS Tushil – is one of two naval ships for which India placed an order with Russia in 2016. It is a Krivak III-class warship, which is an advanced stealth missile frigate. India currently operates six such warships – all manufactured in Russia.

Besides the two that is being made in Russia, two more similar ships have been ordered to be manufactured in India and will likely be manufactured at the Goa Shipyard.

What is interesting is that the primary engines – the gas turbines of these frigates – is manufactured in Ukraine. A Russian warship with a Ukrainian engine, made for India – which shares close ties with both countries.

A majority of the ships in the Indian navy fleet use gas turbines made by the Ukrainian company Zorya-Mashproekt – which is a recognised globally as a leader in marine gas turbine production.

What is unique however, is that this order has been delivered while the war is on between Russia and Ukraine, and it is significant to note that both countries have delivered the order in spite of the conflict. However, there was a bit of a challenge involved – India had to physically procure these engines from Ukraine and have them delivered to Russia before they could be installed on this warship, so it has been somewhat delayed.

ALL ABOUT THE INS TUSHIL

INS Tushil is the Indian Navy’s latest multi-role, stealth-guided missile frigate. The name ‘Tushil’ means a ‘protector shield’ and its crest represents the ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ (Impenetrable Shield). It has a motto – ‘Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel’ (Fearless, Indomitable, and Resolute). The ship stands as a symbol of the Indian Navy’s undying commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime frontiers.

The INS Tushil is an advanced Russian Krivak III-class warship under ‘Project 11356’.

Project 11356 is the code name for the Talwar-class frigates, which are a class of stealth, guided-missile frigates designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy. The design for the Talwar Class frigates have been developed as an advanced version of the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates that Russia uses. So far, six such ships have been built and delivered by Russia to India between 1999 and 2013.

The six Krivak class warships that are already in service are 3 Talwar Class ships built at Baltiysky shipyard in St. Petersburg, and three Teg Class ships constructed at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad.

‘INS Tushil’ will be the seventh in the series, and the first of the two upgraded, advanced warships for which the Indian government and the Indian Navy had signed a contract with Russia’s JSC Rosoboronexport, in October 2016.

The construction of the 125-metre-long warship, weighing 3,900 tonnes, was under constant monitoring by experts of India’s Warship Overseeing Team stationed permanently in Russia’s Kaliningrad throughout its construction. The warship is fitted with advanced Indian missiles, details of which are not revealed by the Indian Navy.

The warship has undergone a series of sea trials, factory sea trials, and state committee trials starting January 2024, during which it clocked an impressive speed of more than 30 knots (55 kmph). It is now being delivered to India in a combat-ready condition.

Russia is delivering the warship to India at Kaliningrad on Monday, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi will be commissioning it.

Upon commissioning, INS Tushil will join the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, under the Western Naval Command.

THE CHINA CHALLENGE

While the first of the two warships have been delivered on Monday, the delivery date for the second ship might take a while. The warship is an important addition to the Indian Navy which is faced with the challenge of the fast-growing Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean.

The Chinese Navy is the fastest-growing navy in the world, and according to some reports the Chinese Navy might have already outnumbered the US Navy to become the largest naval fleet globally. Nowhere is this felt more significantly that the Indian Ocean.

While India has the geographical advantage over China in the Indian Ocean and its strategic location close to key choke points leading to it, China has the advantage in terms of number of vessels in the naval fleet.

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