Russia steps up high-level engagement with India amid global tensions
Moscow has announced several high-level engagements with New Delhi in the coming weeks as tensions in the Middle East continue to squeeze energy supplies.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov will visit India, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said following Russian‑Indian inter‑ministerial consultations in New Delhi on Tuesday.
While the dates for Manturov’s visit are not clear, Lavrov will be in the Indian capital on May 14-15, where he will participate in the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting.
Tehran has formally requested that New Delhi use its BRICS chair to call for a consensus on the US-Israel war on Iran.
Iran and the UAE, both full members of BRICS, no longer have diplomatic relations.
Sergey Lavrov to Visit New Delhi for BRICS Meeting in MayThe Russian Foreign Minister will be in the Indian capital on May 14-15 to participate in the meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers.Lavrov's participation was confirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko… pic.twitter.com/Mv6QYC3grs
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) March 31, 2026
India has increased its purchases of Russian oil since US President Donald Trump temporarily waived sanctions on crude from Russia. “Our Indian friends really consider this period, which began on March 12, as an opportunity to replenish those reserves [of energy resources] that have been depleted,” Rudenko said, according to TASS. “We are talking about spot supplies, on ships that set sail before March 12. Oil is sold at the market price.”
India, which became one of the largest importers of Russian crude after March 2022, was purchasing the oil at heavily discounted rates until earlier this year. It bought almost 2 million barrels per day in 2024 and nearly $44 billion of crude from Moscow last year.
India scaled back purchases late last year under pressure from Washington, turning instead to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Much of this Middle Eastern oil subsequently became trapped in the Persian Gulf after the US and Israel started their war against Iran, squeezing availability and pushing Brent crude prices to as high as $120 per barrel earlier this month.
New Delhi is now importing around 1.5 million barrels of Russian oil per day, a 50% increase from February.
India and Russia are also discussing the resumption of the direct sales of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the first time since the Ukraine conflict escalated.
