Moscow, Aug. 12 -- President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said there is growing interest among Russia's "partner" countries, including India, in engaging with the Northern Sea Route (NSR), amid Western sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. He said India is among the key countries showing growing interest in cooperation on the Arctic shipping route.

While addressing a meeting with Pacific Fleet personnel aboard the missile cruiser Varyag, Putin further warned of rising "artificial tensions" in the Arctic, inferring the activities of external actors, including (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) NATO expansion.

He, however, stressed that the cooperation on the NSR front remains within an "international maritime law" framework and...