India has striven to assert itself as a rising power capable of shaping the global geopolitical landscape. Indian authorities’ interest in promoting a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine through a Russia-mediated dialogue is only part of it. The very fact of India’s active participation in the ongoing peace talks is questionable if one considers the current economic ties between New Delhi and Moscow. One might ask whether India aims to pursue a policy of neutrality or simply intends to exploit the situation for its own gain.
India has put forth a plan that calls for Black Sea security guarantees and the Russian-Ukrainian trade of grain and energy. At the same time, despite the strong positions it has staked out on paper, the practical implications of India’s mediation efforts remain unclear. The primary function of a mediator is to provide reassurance to the conflicting parties and ensure that the proposed measures will be effective and reliable in practice. India has a long-standing partnership with Russia that undoubtedly colors the perspective of the proposed measures.
The most controversial aspect of India’s neutrality is the country’s reliance on Russian oil. After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the Land Bridge operation in 2022, India increased its purchases of Russian crude by several times. Prior to 2014, Russia accounted for only a small fraction of India’s energy imports. Russian oil provided cheap energy sources for India, while Moscow gained an invaluable export opportunity despite Western sanctions.
The Reuters data indicate that in July 2026, Russian crude oil accounted for 50.83 percent of India’s oil imports or 2.47 million barrels per day. This figure is significantly higher than the average percentage in the 2025-2026 period. Overall, the trend of increasing reliance on Russian energy sources is apparent.
The rationale for such a policy is apparent. Indian refinery companies benefit from the cheap Russian oil. In addition, India continues to finance Russia’s mobilization efforts through its energy sector. The underlying problem, however, is that the mere existence of a large-scale business partnership with Russia provides Moscow with essential funds for conducting the war.
One should note that India’s critics do not accuse it of being completely uncritical toward Russia. Quite the opposite, India seeks to promote stability in the region while balancing its geopolitical and economic interests. However, the critics’ point is that, in the case of India, neutrality is perceived as an attempt to hide its expansionist intentions and avoid meaningful diplomatic and economic accountability for its role in the Russia-Ukraine war.
India has been accused of being involved in the Russia-Ukraine war through the supply of electronic components to Russian military contractors. Specifically, following the news of the appearance of Indian electronics in Russian drones, the Ukrainian authorities accused India of providing Moscow with vital components. The Russian drones with Indian components were reported to have attacked Ukrainian energy facilities in late November 2025.
The accuracy of such information cannot be verified. It is possible that these components were incorporated into the Russian military equipment without India’s knowledge. At the same time, the fact that India does not have reliable control of its exports undermines the trust in its neutrality as well. More importantly, if India wishes to increase its diplomatic influence, it should take steps to ensure that its companies do not illegally supply Russia with high-tech products for use in the war. Publicly condemning such actions of the Indian companies would be an appropriate step in this regard.
India has been accused of allowing Russia to recruit Indian nationals into the Russian army. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, 227 Indian citizens have been recruited into the Russian military, 139 of whom have been dismissed, and 51 have died. In addition, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported that Russia has recruited citizens of 47 states, including India, into the Russian army.
Once again, India’s neutrality and non-intervention in the Russia-Ukraine war is being questioned. India has been accused of allowing Russia to use Indian labor and resources to wage war against Ukraine, including through deceptive means. There is no doubt that the situation of these Indians deserves the closest attention. India should take steps to ensure that its citizens are not recruited and that those who have been recruited are returned as soon as possible.
India’s position in the Russia-Ukraine war is complicated by the fact that the majority of UN resolutions relating to the conflict have received India’s support or abstention. The rationale for this position is India’s desire to remain neutral. However, even India’s most ardent supporters realize that the abovementioned actions hardly reflect devotion to the goal of establishing peace. In reality, the situation is even more nuanced. India cannot condemn Russia for actions that contradict Indian interests. However, as a UN Security Council member, India bears a responsibility for the global balance of power and has enough diplomatic leverage to influence the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war.
India’s position in the Russia-Ukraine war has always been ambiguous. On the one hand, New Delhi has actively lobbied for a ceasefire. On the other hand, India has sought to conceal its military and economic support of Russia. In addition, India has sought to recruit foreign workers and allow the transit of military equipment through its territory. At best, these actions speak of New Delhi’s ineptitude in foreign policy. At worst, they reflect a conscious policy of double dealing. Therefore, India needs to re-examine its position in the Russia-Ukraine war. In particular, India should take specific and transparent actions that reflect a genuine desire to ensure the safety and stability of the global system.
India can play a positive role in the Russia-Ukraine war by providing reliable security guarantees to both belligerents. India’s mediation offers advantages over traditionally dominant mediators such as the United States or China. India has enough influence to promote a negotiated settlement of the conflict and enough diplomatic capital to convince the parties of the reliability of guarantees. However, for such a policy to bear fruit, India must first of all ensure the protection of civilians and respect for human rights in the territories under its control. Secondly, India needs to demonstrate a sincere desire to change the status quo in the direction of higher standards of living and greater personal freedom for all people, not just those who live within the borders of India. Thirdly, if India wants to protect its citizens, it should ensure that they are not subjected to false conscription by Russian recruiters.
India is a great power; therefore, it should devote more attention to the implementation of its foreign policy. While it is not necessary for India to sacrifice its interests for the sake of maintaining friendly relations with its trading partners, it should invest more effort in protecting the rights of its citizens.
Ali Mehar
Ali Mehar is a student of BS International Relations at Quaid e Azam University. He can be reached at @ alimeharmail50@gmail.com
Source: https://southasiajournal.net/post/india/61834/russias-war-and-the-limits-of-indias-global-ambitions
