India's Defense Minister on Monday observed the commissioning of his country's latest naval ship at a Russian shipyard, calling it an “important milestone” in ties with a long-standing defense ally.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the commissioning ceremony of the country's latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, INS Tushil, at the Baltic port of Kaliningrad.
“The ship is a proud testament to India's growing maritime strength and an important milestone in long-standing bilateral relations with Russia,” Singh posted on X.
Tushil, or “shield” in English, weighs 3,900 tons and carries “an impressive combination of cutting-edge Russian and Indian technologies,” the Defense Ministry said in New Delhi last week.
He also said that the ship would arrive in India in “almost combat-ready condition” as all Russian equipment on board had already been successfully tested.
New Delhi has walked a diplomatic tightrope since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, pledging humanitarian support to kyiv while avoiding explicit condemnation of the Russian offensive.
In October, at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his calls for a quick end to the fighting in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin praised what he called Russia and India's “privileged strategic partnership” and pledged to continue closer ties.
Modi visited kyiv in August and Moscow in July in an effort to foster talks, while India presented itself as a potential mediator in the conflict.
