Recent diplomatic activity has highlighted growing pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine. CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow last week, and reports indicate the White House is preparing to send special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Kyiv for their first visit. In a public address, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict, emphasizing the need for a cessation of hostilities.
According to the source, roughly 40 percent of Russia’s economy is allocated to the war effort, which has resulted in significant military casualties and limited territorial gains. Russian financial institutions are experiencing capital outflows, while Ukrainian strikes on fuel infrastructure have caused fuel shortages and long queues at gas stations within Russia. The ongoing conflict has also intensified ethnic tensions in the country’s eastern regions.
Since the full‑scale invasion in 2022, India has become a major importer of Russian crude oil, accounting for about one‑third of its total imports. Russian crude sales to India rose from $2.3 billion in 2021 to approximately $172 billion between 2022 and 2025. Indian refiners have processed the discounted Russian oil and exported petroleum products, generating an estimated $15‑20 billion in revenue and an additional $2‑4 billion in annual profit. In recognition of the bilateral relationship, Modi received Russia’s Order of St. Andrew in 2024, and the Indian foreign ministry described the partnership as a “special and privileged strategic partnership.”
The article notes that leaders such as Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Modi, and former U.S. President Donald Trump have maintained a complex network of personal and strategic ties. While these relationships have historically been cooperative, recent public statements, including Modi’s call for peace, suggest a shift in dynamics amid the ongoing conflict.
