India and Russia have signaled a fresh push to strengthen their energy partnership, with Moscow expressing readiness to significantly increase supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas to the Indian market. The development came during the visit of Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov to New Delhi, where he held a series of high-level meetings with top Indian leadership.
During his two-day visit, Manturov met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, before calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation across key sectors including energy, fertilizers, trade, and connectivity.
According to Russian officials, Moscow has already increased its supply of mineral fertilizers to India by around 40 percent and is prepared to continue meeting rising demand. Talks also touched upon a proposed joint project for carbamide production, signaling deeper industrial collaboration between the two nations.
A major highlight of the visit was Russia’s offer to scale up crude oil and LNG exports. Russian companies, Manturov said, have the capacity to ensure steady and increased deliveries to India, which has emerged as a key buyer of discounted Russian crude in recent years. Data indicates that India’s oil imports from Russia saw a sharp jump in March, rising from nearly 1 million barrels per day in February to about 1.5 million barrels per day.
While oil imports have surged, India currently imports very little natural gas from Russia. A shift toward Russian LNG could mark a significant change in India’s energy sourcing pattern, which is presently dominated by suppliers like Qatar. Any move in this direction would signal diversification away from traditional Gulf partners.
Both sides also reviewed progress in nuclear energy cooperation, particularly the ongoing development of additional power units at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. Russia reiterated its commitment to expanding collaboration in this sector, highlighting long-term strategic potential.
In a post after meeting Manturov, Prime Minister Modi said he was pleased with the discussions and emphasized the importance of strengthening mutually beneficial ties in trade, fertilizers, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. He also noted ongoing efforts to implement outcomes from the last India-Russia annual summit.
Alongside executive-level talks, parliamentary engagement also gained momentum, with a Russian delegation led by Vladimir Yakushev meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The interaction highlighted growing legislative cooperation and a shared intent to deepen bilateral dialogue.
The visit underlines a broader strategic alignment between India and Russia, especially in energy security and long-term economic cooperation, at a time of shifting global supply chains and geopolitical tensions.
