India Reopens Energy Talks with Russia Amid Global Supply Pressures
India is recalibrating its energy strategy by reviving cooperation with Russia, just weeks after scaling back crude imports as a perceived concession to U.S. pressure under Donald Trump. Fresh discussions between Indian Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Russian officials have resulted in a verbal agreement to negotiate the resumption of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies—halted since the Ukraine war. The potential deal, which could be finalized within weeks, may require India to seek sanctions waivers from Washington.
The renewed engagement comes against the backdrop of soaring global energy prices and supply disruptions triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly affecting key transit routes like the Strait of Hormuz. India, heavily reliant on energy imports, has already begun increasing purchases of discounted Russian crude, with imports expected to rise significantly. Policymakers have acknowledged that earlier reductions in Russian oil imports may have worsened current vulnerabilities, with potential impacts including rising inflation, currency pressure, and slower export growth.
Strengthening Indo-Russian ties extend beyond oil and gas, with discussions also covering power transmission projects and enhanced air connectivity. Russia is leveraging the opportunity to expand its presence in India’s energy and infrastructure sectors, while bilateral trade increasingly shifts to rupee-rouble transactions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov подчеркed the resilience of the partnership, calling it a model of mutual trust and strategic alignment as both nations navigate a volatile global energy landscape.
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