Aggressively canvassing for the Indo-US nuclear deal after the victory in the trust vote, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday called up Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and apparently sought Moscow' backing at the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.
The telephonic conversation between Dr Singh and Medvedev was 'in development of constructive (ties), aimed at practical results talks held on the margins of the recent G-8 summit in Toyako (Japan) and they discussed a wide range of issues, including the preparations for the upcoming Delhi visit of the Russian President', according to the Kremlin.
Although the Kremlin statement did not mention the nuclear deal, but it is believed that Dr Singh's call to Medvedev was part of the government's push to garner backing of key nuclear powers and members of the NSG in the wake of trust vote won by the Congress-led UPA government.
Russia is a key member of the 45-strong NSG and at their meeting on the G-8 sidelines President Medvedev had reportedly assured Dr Singh of his country's strong backing of India's case at the IAEA Board of Governors meet next month and NSG.
Russia is building two light water VVER-1000 MWe reactors at Kudankulam nuclear power plant and the two nations have signed an agreement for the construction of four more reactors once New Delhi signs India specific safeguards agreement with the UN nuclear watchdog and NSG lifts curbs on nuclear commerce with the country.