Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on Monday signed four key agreements with Russia [Images].

The two countries did not sign a civil nuclear agreement as was speculated. There was speculation that India might sign a civil nuclear pact with Russia in its attempt to garner support in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, of which Russia is an important member. A similar deal that India signed with the United States is in cold storage after the Left Front opposed it saying it was not in the interest of the nation.

In Moscow [Images], Dr Singh also had a one-on-one meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin [Images] at the Kremlin.

The four agreements are:

1)      An agreement between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation in the field of joint moon exploration on cooperation in the filed of exploration and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

2)      An agreement on cooperation in development and production of multi-role transport aircraft.

3)      An agreement on the utilisation of the rupee debt funds for Russian investments in India.

4)      An agreement on cooperation to combat illicit trafficking in narcotics, psychotropic substances and their precursors.