As the geopolitical order convulses under the weight of the Ukraine war, Western sanctions and sharpening great power rivalries, Russia is doubling down on one relationship it believes has stood the test of history — India.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov described the India-Russia partnership as one built not merely on transactions, but on “genuine trust” painstakingly accumulated over decades.
The envoy repeatedly stressed that despite unprecedented Western sanctions on Moscow, ties with New Delhi have not only endured but expanded across energy, trade, defence, manufacturing and culture. He argued that India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil helped stabilise global energy markets while also serving India’s own economic interests. Moscow, he suggested, never doubted that New Delhi would pursue what it saw as an independent foreign policy.
Alipov portrayed sanctions as a failed Western instrument that ultimately hurt those imposing them more than Russia itself. According to him, Russia adapted rapidly, redirected trade flows and expanded supplies to countries willing to engage pragmatically, especially India. He underlined that energy cooperation had become one of the most visible pillars of the relationship, but insisted the partnership was far broader than oil.
Trade and investment, he said, are now moving into manufacturing, research, agriculture and strategic technologies. The ambassador also highlighted expanding cultural exchanges and educational engagement, presenting the bilateral relationship as unusually dense and multidimensional.
On defence cooperation, Alipov pushed back against suggestions that Russia’s ability to supply India had weakened because of the Ukraine conflict. Instead, he emphasised joint production, technology transfer and long-term industrial cooperation, saying Russia had supported India’s self-reliance ambitions “much before” the current Atmanirbhar Bharat push.
The ambassador also drew attention to the chemistry between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin, describing it as sincere, stable and strategically consequential. Trust, he noted, takes years to build but can disappear quickly — a line clearly aimed at underscoring why Moscow sees India as different from many of its other international partners.
On Ukraine, Alipov defended Russia’s security concerns and argued that any future settlement would have to reflect “realities on the ground.” He signalled support for negotiations but rejected what he described as temporary or cosmetic ceasefire arrangements that failed to address Moscow’s broader demands over security guarantees and NATO expansion.
The envoy also indicated that Moscow appreciated India’s consistent calls for dialogue and diplomacy. While careful not to suggest any formal mediation role for New Delhi, he hinted that Russia values India as one of the few major powers capable of maintaining communication with all sides.
Looking ahead to upcoming multilateral engagements, including BRICS and other Global South forums, Alipov framed the emerging world order as increasingly multipolar and consensus-driven. In that evolving landscape, Russia appears convinced that its partnership with India is not merely surviving geopolitical turbulence — it is becoming one of Moscow’s most critical strategic anchors.
