India, Sept. 19 -- Russia has accused Western countries of attempting to pressure India over its participation in the ongoing 'Zapad' joint military drills with Belarus, dismissing European concerns as "unfounded" and "deliberately contrived."

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow valued New Delhi's decision to join the exercises and rejected criticism from the European Union and NATO allies. Zakharova asked when will West "finally understand the futility and indeed, the absurdity of trying to dictate terms to sovereign states."

This comes as a 65-member contingent of Indian armed forces participated in the Zapad exercise in Belarus, prompting a strong reaction from European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja ...