The return of Donald Trump as President of the United States (US), the red carpet welcome accorded by him to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Anchorage Summit in August 2025, the new US National Security Strategy’s openness to renewed engagement with Russia, and European fatigue over economic strain and unsustainability of open-ended military and financial backing to Ukraine have bolstered the Russian resolve. Juxtaposed against Russia’s steady alignment with India’s interests, these examples of the Ukraine-Pakistan defence relationship help explain India’s stance towards the parties to the conflict and abstention on UN resolutions concerning Ukraine. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to both Russia and Ukraine in 2024 signalled a balanced approach to the conflict, grounded in a hard-headed assessment of national interest and reinforcing India’s capacity to engage all sides.
Author: Ajai Malhotra
Published at: 2026-02-09 21:30:47
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