In a moment that instantly lit up the room, Roman Babushkin, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Russian Embassy in India, opened his press conference with
a Hindi greeting, invoking the blessings of Hindu god Ganpati. "Shuruat karengey… Shri Ganesh karengey!” he declared with a smile, invoking the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi as he began his media interaction on Wednesday. "We would like to welcome everyone, sabka hardik swagat," the Russian diplomat said. "Shuruat karengey, Shri Ganesh Karenge. Ganesh Chaturthi se aap sab ka... Such an honor to be here, ladies and gentlemen. My friends from media, a lot of familiar faces, and there are a lot of newcomers to the Russian Embassy," he said as he discussed developments surrounding ties between New Delhi and Moscow amid pressure from the United States.
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Russia Hails Ties With India Amid US Pressure
In the press briefing, the Russian diplomat defended India's ties with Moscow, calling US pressure over Russian crude oil purchases "unjustified." His remarks came against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent that over its continued purchase of Russian energy.
Babushkin said that the current global scenario is challenging for India, adding that Moscow has "trust" in its ties with New Delhi. "If the West criticises you, it means you are doing everything right. We don't expect that to happen (India to stop buying oil from Russia). We know about the challenging circumstances for India. This is the true strategic partnership we are enjoying. Whatever happens, even during challenges, we are committed to removing any problems," he said.
He added, "The recent phone call by President Putin to PM Modi ji, explaining and sharing the information about recent developments in Ukraine, means India matters a lot to Russia. We are capable of finding any solution for mutual satisfaction."
