'India meets conditions for US waiver on S-400, can't wish away defence ties with Russia'

India meets the criteria for a US sanctions waiver for procuring S-400 missile defence systems from Russia and the Trump administration has “enough flexibility” on the issue, diplomatic sources said Tuesday, asserting that New Delhi cannot “wish away” its longstanding defence ties with Moscow.

The pitch for a waiver came a day before talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his American counterpart Mike Pompeo during which the issue is likely to figure.

There has been a discussion on the issue with the US, both in private as well as in public domain, and it is of “some concern” to Washington, diplomatic sources said.