By Ephraim Agbo
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, marking a critical moment in a shifting global landscape. His reception by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — including a rare protocol-breaking airport welcome — underscored the enduring weight of a partnership navigating sanctions, rivalry, and a world fractured by the Ukraine war.
A Strategic Visit with High Stakes
Putin’s tightly scheduled 27-hour trip included a private dinner with Modi, a visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, high-level talks, and a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The agenda was broad but focused:
1. Trade Imbalance
Bilateral trade reached $68.7 billion in 2024–25, yet Indian exports were only $4.88 billion. India wants better access for its pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles, and agri-products.
2. Defense Ties
Russia remains India’s biggest historical arms supplier, though sanctions and supply-chain shortages have slowed deliveries of systems like the S-400. Discussions on co-producing the Su-57 remain ongoing.
3. Energy at the Center
India is now one of the world’s top buyers of Russian crude. This has delivered major economic benefits — including saving $5.4 billion in 2023–24 — but has provoked Western backlash.
4. Nuclear & Space
Talks include small modular reactors and expanded space cooperation.
India’s Oil Calculus: Security Over Sentiment
Since 2022, India’s imports of discounted Russian crude surged to 35–40% of its total supply — a strategic choice to protect a 1.4 billion–person economy.
But the pressure is rising:
- The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on key Indian exports, partly blaming Russian oil buys.
- The EU banned products refined from Russian crude.
- Sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil sharply cut India’s intake from 1.69 million bpd (Sept 2025) to 0.94 million bpd (Nov 2025).
India is diversifying, yet maintains that its decisions are economic, sovereign, and essential.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar summed it up:
“We are in the business of securing energy for our people.”
Human Issues and Diplomatic Friction
Indian Youths in Russia
Families from Punjab and Haryana allege their children were tricked into Russian jobs and forced into military roles. They hope the summit brings answers and repatriation.
EU Ambassadors’ Public Rebuke
The German, French, and UK envoys published an op-ed urging India to pressure Russia. India called it undiplomatic interference. Germany said it simply expressed a shared Western view.
Europe’s Continued Russian Energy Dependence: The Double Standard Debate
As India faces intense scrutiny for oil purchases, Europe — the loudest critic — remains one of Russia’s biggest fossil-fuel customers.
Europe Still Pays Russia Billions
- EU states still send €1.5 billion/month to Russia for fossil fuels.
- The EU buys 51% of Russia’s LNG, making it the world’s biggest customer.
- Natural gas accounted for nearly 75% of EU imports from Russia in late 2025.
Major importers include France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Slovakia.
Why Europe Can’t Quit Russian Energy Overnight
- Deep pipeline dependency
- Landlocked states like Hungary & Slovakia lack alternatives
- Long-term contracts with penalties
- Infrastructure not yet ready for a rapid switch
A New European Timeline
On December 3, 2025, the EU approved a full ban on Russian gas by 2027 — a landmark transition, though slower than many in the Global South expected.
India vs Europe: Contradicting Realities
| Issue | India | European Union |
|---|---|---|
| Main Russian import | Crude oil | Natural gas |
| Share | ~38% | 51% of LNG, 34% pipeline gas |
| Reason | Price + energy security | Infrastructure + contracts |
| Pressure received | High (tariffs, criticism) | Low (slow phase-out) |
| Exit plan | None announced | Full ban by 2027 |
This disparity fuels global accusations of Western hypocrisy.
What Putin’s Visit Ultimately Signals
For India, the summit is a declaration of strategic autonomy: alignment with neither West nor East, but with national interest.
For Russia, it is proof that it is not isolated — and that India remains one of its most important partners.
But the relationship is shifting:
- India is diversifying arms and energy sources
- Russia seeks non-Western markets
- The partnership once defined by dependency is now becoming pragmatic and transactional
The Global Picture: Energy, Not Ideology, Drives the World
Putin’s visit and the global debate around Russian oil reveal one truth:
The world is not divided by alliances — it is divided by energy needs.
India buys oil for survival.
Europe buys gas despite sanctions.
Russia sells to whoever will buy.
The U.S. pressures rivals, tolerates allies.
The future of geopolitics — from Delhi to Brussels to Moscow — is being written not in speeches or treaties, but in pipelines, tankers, and refineries.
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