US told India s relationship with Russia is time tested: Sitharaman

New Delhi June 5 (IANS) Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that India has made it clear to the US that its relationship with Russia is lasting and the dynamics of Indo-US ties cannot influence it.
"I like to make it clear here that in all our engagements with the US we have very clearly explained how India and Russia s defence cooperation has been going on for a very long time " Sitharaman said in response to a media query pertaining to the US advising India to not go ahead with purchasing S-400 anti-missile system from Russia.
"It s a time tested relationship and India has got quite a lot of defence assets from Russia. Assets spares servicing we have a continuous relationship with Russia " she added.
She said the US sanctions against Russia would not be impacting "this particular characteristic of India-Russia defence cooperation".
She said that negotiations with Russia for S-400 were in the final stage.
"The S-400 deal has been on for a very long time and we have reached the final stage negotiations. That explains it all " Sitharaman said on whether India would still go ahead with the deal with Russia.

--IANS mak/mr