Russia, China, and India Strengthen Ties to Counter US Influence amid Ukraine War
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly implored Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine during a summit meeting, invoking Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa while pushing for a peaceful settlement. During the high-level exchange, Modi told a tense Putin that India supports all peace efforts and that bringing an end to the conflict is essential for the sake of humanity, according to reports. Invoking historical figures associated with nonviolence and humanitarian aid, the Indian leader emphasized that peace is the direction that must be pursued.
“Thank you very much, prime minister. We are moving forward along this path,” Putin responded to Modi, as reported by reports.
Despite the direct diplomatic push, the Kremlin maintains its rigid position. Russia insists that ending the war in Ukraine can only be achieved on its own terms—conditions that Kyiv has continually rejected. Meanwhile, military hostilities have escalated on the ground. Attacks on Ukraine have intensified alongside reports of potential fresh troop mobilizations and stepped-up ground offensives by Moscow. Concurrently, Ukraine has scaled up its drone strikes, targeting internal Russian energy infrastructure as well as commercial warehouses belonging to online retailers Wildberries and Ozon, according to reports.
Trade Ties and Sanction Pressures
Modi’s direct plea to Putin stands in contrast to robust economic ties between New Delhi and Moscow. India remains one of the largest buyers of Russian oil, a commercial lifeline for the Kremlin amid sweeping Western sanctions. According to reports, India recently stepped up to supply gasoline to Moscow following Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries.
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This economic alignment unfolds alongside broader geopolitical shifts. According to the Associated Press and The New York Times, the summit featuring Putin, Modi, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping highlights the leverage that ongoing trade and diplomatic friction with Washington have granted Beijing. In a parallel bilateral development during the gatherings, Anadolu Ajansı reported that Putin announced Russia’s readiness to make visa-free travel with China permanent, as Xi and Putin reaffirmed bilateral ties in the face of what they termed an unpredictable world.
Unresolved Diplomatic Posture
