The bonhomie between New Delhi and Moscow is now conditioned on the stark realties of the changing global situation, where trade and economics prevail.

Gone are the days when New Delhi and Moscow were assured of each other's unstinted support in international arena.

Earlier this week, Russian Defense Minster Sergei Ivnaov warned New Delhi of not sharing sophisticated military technologies until India signed an agreement on the protection of intellectual property rights.

We will not give away such high technology without signing IPR agreement, for free. India is a priority and strategic partner of Russia. It was also a strategic partner of Soviet Union, which used to give many things for free, but things have changed, Ivanov said. Russia is a different country, and there is a need for taking cognizance of this reality.

Ivanov also said Russia wouldn't supply nuclear submarines to India.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin went further. The Russian leader, on a three-day visit to India, supported New Delhi's claim for a permanent seat in the U.N. Security Council but said that new members of the council should not have veto powers.

India is our strategic privileged partner. Speaking from the point of view of geographical representation, India is No. 1, Putin told reporters after holding talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Putin, however, zealously guarded the exclusive veto club.

Speaking about the role of veto, we believe it would be absolutely unacceptable to erode such tools of the U.N., he told a joint press conference with Singh.

Because, otherwise, the U.N. organization will lose its weight and lose its role changing into some discussion club, some new edition of the League of Nations, the Russian president said.

The Indian premier had earlier said: In particular, we are very appreciative for Russia's sustained support for India's permanent membership in the U.N. Security Council.

India, however fully supported Moscow's bid to join the World Trade Organization.

Issues relating to Russia's membership of WTO came up during our meeting, Manmohan Singh told reporters, saying, We will fully support Russia's early entry into WTO.

The two sides signed several agreements for stronger economic ties in energy, banking, information technology, aviation and peaceful uses of outer space and joint development of a satellite navigational system.

India and Russia will pump in more money into the successful joint BrahMos supersonic cruise missile project, hold regular military exercises and actively explore joint production of a fifth-generation combat aircraft.

The two sides also signed a joint declaration, agreeing to finalize the intellectual property rights agreement within next four months.

India pressed Russia to stick to its delivery schedules of contracted weapon systems and an uninterrupted supply of spares and life-term product support.

Although India has been defense shopping in Israel and the United States following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia continues to be the backbone of Indian defense supplies.

Nearly three-fourths of Indian military's hardware is of Soviet make, and India is hard pressed for the required spare parts.

But India has definitely something to cheer with Russia categorically denying any future plans to sell arms and ammunition to Pakistan.

Pakistan's Daily Times quoted Russian officials as saying that, keeping in view New Delhi's traditional ties with Moscow, Russia honored Indian sentiments and won't sell arms to Pakistan.

Putin, on his third visit since 2000, is accompanied by a 50-member business delegation, mainly from the energy and IT sectors. He also is scheduled to visit India's IT hub city of Bangalore.

Meanwhile, the silverware used by Putin during his ongoing visit to India is being disinfected with copious amount of vodka.

Russian security sleuths used the liquor, said to be a great disinfectant, to wash the knives and forks to be used by Putin and his wife, Lyudmila, Indo Asian News Service reported, quoting an employee of the Maurya Sheraton Hotel in New Delhi where the Russian leader is staying.

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