MOSCOW, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Vladimir Putin says Russia wants to help India's nuclear program by building nuclear facilities and intervening in international fuel disputes.
President Putin said Tuesday Russia will build even more than the two reactors under construction in India now and will try to convince the Nuclear Suppliers Group to sell India uranium.
"We stand ready to support our Indian friends. We intend to help India directly in the construction of atomic energy facilities for peaceful use," Putin said. "On top of that, some of our companies are very much interested in acquiring large contracts for construction of new facilities."
Putin heads to New Delhi for talks this week, The Hindu reports.
He wouldn't get into details on the agenda for negotiations but said it would include future nuclear energy work. Russia is expected to sign a tender to build four more reactors to help India meet its growing energy need.
India has not signed the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, which has hampered its ability to reach nuclear compacts with countries including the United States, as well as obtain nuclear fuel.
The Nuclear Suppliers Group is an international body governing nuclear fuel, with a stipulation that the weapons treaty is signed.
India has refused to do so but has said international inspectors could have access to what New Delhi considers part of its civilian nuclear program.
Putin said he will press India's case to the few holdouts in the NSG.
