Russia has expressed strong confidence that India will continue purchasing its crude oil, despite increasing pressure and new tariffs from the United States. Officials from the Russian Embassy in New Delhi highlighted that India enjoys a 5%–7% discount on Russian oil, along with a payment system in Indian rupees, making the trade both economical and practical.
Currently, Russian oil makes up around 35% of India’s total crude imports, a dramatic rise from just 0.2% before the Ukraine conflict. This shift underlines how deeply India and Russia have strengthened their energy ties in recent years.
In parallel, Moscow is advocating for the revival of India-China-Russia trilateral discussions, aimed at creating a stronger Eurasian alliance. Diplomatic engagement between India and China is already gaining momentum, with Prime Minister Modi preparing for his first visit to China in seven years. All three nations are expected to meet at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where deeper regional cooperation is on the table.
To further solidify ties, Russia is also planning a state visit by President Vladimir Putin to India by the end of 2025, signaling long-term diplomatic and economic alignment between the two countries.