The United States continues to press India to disengage from Russia, yet New Delhi values its sustained, practical relations with Moscow. This stance was clarified by Denis Alipov, the Russian Ambassador to India, in an interview with News. He stressed that Delhi will safeguard its national interests, including its interactions with the Russian Federation, even as Western capitals push for a different strategic course.
Alipov noted that Western pressure is persistent and that U.S. policy aims, in his view, to sever ties between India and Russia. He asserted that India’s independent decision making and balanced approach during Moscow’s confrontation with the West make coercive tactics ineffective in changing Delhi’s stance.
He also observed that new global economic conditions have emerged that Russia must recognize, and that mechanisms have been developed to sustain bilateral cooperation even in the face of anti-Russian sanctions. This pragmatic outlook, he suggested, is helping both nations navigate a shifting geopolitical landscape.
According to the ambassador, Russia remains India’s leading supplier of oil, underscoring the strategic importance of energy trade between the two countries. He highlighted a mutual interest in extending long-term contracts across additional sectors, signaling potential growth in areas such as energy and infrastructure. LNG and other energy vectors were singled out as key areas where both sides hold high expectations for future collaboration.
Earlier statements attributed some difficulties in Russian exports to India, pointing to headwinds that both sides are working to overcome through revised trade arrangements and diversified supply chains. The ambassador’s remarks imply a continued push toward resilience in economic partnerships amid geopolitical tension, with an emphasis on preserving essential energy security and ongoing dialogue for broader cooperation. Source: Interview with News, Russian Ambassador to India.