On the eve of Left-UPA panel meeting on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Russian Ambassador to India Mr.Vyacheslav Trubnikov gave a boost to Manmohan Singh government by coming out in support of the deal by terming the deal as ‘useful’ on 17th June’08 in New Delhi. He said, “In my personal assessment, by and large the Indo-US nuclear deal is useful for India. India should sign the deal and the sooner is better than later.” He added that it would open the door to Indo-Russian co-operation in civil nuclear expansion.
He further said that Moscow was bound by international obligations as a member of Nuclear Suppliers Group and expected India to conclude the safeguards agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency to get a waiver from NSG. Once this is done, India would be able to participate in nuclear trade paving the way for further Indo-Russian co-operation, he added. He expected India to join the nuclear main stream. He however added, "It was for India to decide at what price it has to strike the deal.”