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Russia is “expending considerable diplomatic effort to court India,” according to war analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Putin and other high-ranking officials are dedicating significant time and energy to stabilize and strengthen relations with India, indicating Russia’s view of India as a critical source of revenue. This push follows the deterioration in relations between Moscow and Washington, where U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods for purchasing Russian oil after threatening Putin with “very severe consequences” over Ukraine.
Newsweek has contacted Russia’s Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department for comment.
Why It Matters
Russia’s intensified diplomatic push reflects growing concern in Moscow about the economic impact of Western sanctions, particularly secondary sanctions affecting non-Western trade partners. India has become a major buyer of Russian oil, filling the void left by European markets. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, bilateral trade surged to a record $68.7 billion, largely driven by energy exports from Russia.
What To Know
Russian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin met with Indian Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Pankaj Jain to discuss energy cooperation on Wednesday. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that Putin would probably visit India by the end of the year, adding that both countries had agreed to boost bilateral trade. India plans to help Russia address labor shortages by sending workers with IT, construction, and engineering skills.
ISW analysts argue this supports their assessment that “secondary sanctions will likely further impact the Russian economy by undercutting Russian oil revenues, which are essential for the Kremlin’s financing of its war against Ukraine.” Intensive Russian outreach suggests Moscow is attempting to ensure New Delhi does not curtail energy purchases from Russia due to these potential secondary sanctions.
Recently, Trump announced a 25 percent duty on Indian goods over India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Plans call for doubling it to 50 percent next week—just months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood with President Trump in Washington, declaring a new phase in the U.S.-India strategic relationship.
“We’re going to open up India like never before,” Trump said at a White House press conference. Modi called the U.S. “India’s most trusted partner” and expected the deal to be finalized “within months.”
What People Are Saying
A Russian diplomat Roman Babushkin said America’s use of primary and secondary sanctions is a “tool of unlawful competition.” “Friends don’t behave like that,” he added, noting Russia and BRICS partners never impose such sanctions.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs previously stated: “It is extremely unfortunate that the U.S. should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest. We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told Fox News: “India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world but they don’t accept our products. They impose massive tariffs on us. They’re taking advantage of us on trade and underwriting Putin’s war effort.”
What Happens Next
Putin is expected to visit India before the end of 2025, with both countries pushing for a $100 billion trade target by 2030. The Kremlin continues its campaign to secure reliable oil buyers as pressure from Western sanctions grows.
The impact of Trump’s recent Alaska meeting with Putin and whether it will help achieve peace remains uncertain.
