Russia-Ukraine War
India's Position and Strategic Implications
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (February 24, 2022) is the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II and has generated the world's largest displacement crisis — over 10 million Ukrainians fled abroad, with millions more internally displaced. India has maintained a position of strategic autonomy — abstaining on UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russian aggression while maintaining diplomatic contacts with both Moscow and Kyiv. India has continued to purchase discounted Russian crude oil (which accelerated after Western sanctions), providing Russia revenue and India energy security. At the same time, India has maintained military and strategic ties with Western partners and has supported calls for a negotiated peace and respect for sovereignty.
- UN General Assembly Emergency Special Session Resolution ES-11/1 (March 2, 2022): Condemned Russian aggression — 141 in favour, 5 against, 35 abstentions (India abstained)
- UN Charter Article 2(4): Prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any state
- India–Russia defence dependence: ~60% of India's major defence equipment is of Russian origin (though India is actively diversifying)
- India's oil imports from Russia: Rose from ~1% before February 2022 to ~35–40% of India's crude imports by 2024
- Budapest Memorandum (1994): Ukraine surrendered Soviet nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the US, and UK — Russia's violation is widely cited
● Tracked since February 21, 2026 · last seen April 24, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes