The European Union has signaled that India’s deepening ties with Russia could complicate Brussels’ push to secure a landmark trade deal with the world’s most populous nation. EU foreign policy chief Kallas, unveiling a new strategy to boost relations, cautioned that India’s purchases of Russian oil and participation in joint military drills with Moscow remain “obstacles to deeper cooperation.”
Kallas stressed that the EU’s outreach to India is not just about trade but also about defending the global rules-based order, a principle she said is undermined by New Delhi’s continued military and economic engagement with Moscow. Still, she acknowledged that Europe does not expect India to “completely decouple” from Russia and will continue dialogue to bridge differences.
India has emerged as one of Moscow’s biggest energy lifelines, buying discounted oil since Western sanctions cut Russia off from European markets. This month, India also joined Russia and Belarus in Zapad military exercises near NATO borders, fueling unease in Brussels.
The EU remains eager to wrap up a free trade agreement with India by the end of 2025, despite these tensions. Trade between the two has surged 90 percent over the past decade, making the EU India’s largest trading partner. Senior officials are aiming for a high-level summit early next year to finalize talks, even as Washington’s pressure grows.
Across the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on New Delhi, recently hiking tariffs on most Indian exports to 50 percent to punish its ongoing oil deals with Moscow. He has also urged the EU to impose tariffs on India and China to cut Russia’s war chest, though EU diplomats say such measures are unlikely while trade negotiations are underway.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a warm phone call on Wednesday, with both leaders hailing their “trustful and friendly” relations. Modi reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the countries’ Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and said India stands ready to help find a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict — a statement likely to be watched closely in Washington and Brussels.