Russia has ruled out any military alliance with China, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today, adding that the supply of military equipment to Moscow will continue. The statement is important given the military standoff between India and China for nearly a year in eastern Ladakh.

Speaking alongside S. Jaishankar, Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lavrov also referred to the manufacture by Russia of 750 million doses of Sputnik vaccine in India. Discussions on manufacturing Bharat Biotech in Russia are ongoing.

Both sides mentioned that the situation in Afghanistan was included in the discussions. Lavrov said any discussion without Taliban involvement was “unsustainable.” Regional powers, a reference to Pakistan and other countries, he said, would be involved. Jaishankar added that India’s security should be kept in mind during the peace process.

Although Lavrov did not respond to questions about India’s purchase of additional S-400 air defense system regiments, he said military ties were deepening and he respected the decision of the India to diversify the purchase of military weapons to other countries, a reference to the United States and France. He said Russia was reassured that there was no plan for an Asian NATO.