NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The friendship between the United States and India has never been stronger and disagreements over Russia's invasion of Ukraine won't hinder ties between the two, Washington's new ambassador to New Delhi said on Tuesday. "We won't stop speaking about the unprovoked war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine," Garcetti told news channel CNN-News 18, weeks before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state-visit to the United States from June 21-24. New Delhi has refused to condemn its old ally Russia for the war and has increased its trade with Moscow to record levels, driven largely by imports of Russian oil. It has pushed back criticism from Western leaders and said it is defending its own interests in buying Russian oil, much of it below the $60 per barrel price cap. "India can count on the friendship of America, they can count on the strategic relationship that we have," Garcetti said.

Source: CNN May 30, 2023 12:14 UTC