AKIPRESS.COM - Russia on Wednesday welcomed India's "independent position" on the Ukraine crisis and said its views on the issue at the UN Security Council was reflective of the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries, Business Standard reported.

Russian Deputy Chief of Mission at its embassy in New Delhi Roman Babushkin said India has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and it takes an "independent and balanced" approach to global affairs.

"We welcome the independent position of India which it took twice at the UN Security Council," he said at an online media briefing. "The Indian activities at the UN Security Council are fully reflecting the merit of our special and privileged strategic partnership," he added.

Amid escalating tension between Moscow and the West on Ukrainian regions, India at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called for "restraint on all sides".

It stressed that the immediate priority is "de-escalation of tensions" taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond.

India has so far not condemned Russia's actions and its external affairs minister S Jaishankar, while participating in a panel discussion in Paris on Tuesday, said a lot of what's happening on the Ukraine issue is derived from post Soviet politics and Russia-West dynamics.

“Russia-India partnership is based on a strong and solid foundation. It is based on mutual trust," Babushkin said. "Our cooperation does not represent any threat to anyone and at the same time we keep moving shoulder-to-shoulder to establish a just and equal multipolar world," he added, hoping that the intensity of India-Russia ties will continue at the same level.

"Russia and India take each other's security interests and concerns very seriously. We have big plans in defence and we hope to implement all of these," said Babushkin, while complimenting India for its "independent" policy. Babushkin was responding to queries related to any possibility of sanctions affecting Russia's defence partnership with India, including the supply of S-400 air missile defence system.

Babushkin added that Moscow will look forward to go ahead with the implementation of its "big plans" in defence with India as the only country, which is "honest" in sharing the technology with it.

The diplomat said that “Russia strongly stand for the establishment of just and equal multipolarity with the central role of the UN and international law, and closely coordinating in this regard at all multilateral fora. The relations (with India) have become a strong factor of global peace and stability," he added.