Russia has offered to boost oil and natural gas supplies to India during high-level bilateral talks held in New Delhi. Visiting Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, made this proposal. The discussions centred on strengthening cooperation in key sectors such as energy, fertilisers, trade, and connectivity.

After the meeting, Modi shared on social media that both leaders discussed “mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, fertilisers, connectivity and people-to-people ties”. He also appreciated the continued efforts by both countries to implement decisions taken during the India-Russia Summit held in New Delhi during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin last December. The discussions reflected the ongoing commitment to deepen bilateral ties across multiple sectors.

Jaishankar, in his remarks following the meeting, said that both sides reviewed cooperation in trade, industry, energy, fertilisers, connectivity, and mobility. He added that they also explored new areas such as technology, innovation, and critical minerals. These discussions highlighted the expanding scope of India-Russia relations beyond traditional sectors. Manturov and Jaishankar also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

According to a statement from the Russian embassy, Manturov “confirmed that Russian companies have the capacity to steadily increase supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas to the Indian market”. This assurance comes at a time when India is facing challenges in securing stable energy supplies. Manturov also noted that Russia had “increased supplies of in-demand mineral fertilisers to India by 40%” by the end of 2025. He added that Russia is ready to meet India’s demand for fertilisers. The two countries are also working on a joint project for carbamide production.

India is currently dealing with disruptions in energy and fertiliser supplies due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This situation has arisen from tensions linked to military actions involving Israel and the United States against Iran. In this context, the Russian side stated that “particular attention was paid to cooperation in the oil and gas sector” during Manturov’s meetings in India. The discussions highlighted the importance of reliable energy partnerships during times of global uncertainty.

Russia has recently become India’s largest energy supplier again. This shift follows a waiver by the United States that allows India to continue importing Russian energy despite existing sanctions. The renewed flow of supplies has strengthened economic ties between the two countries and ensured energy security for India.

Manturov, who also serves as the co-chairman of the Russia-India Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation, held additional meetings during his visit. He met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. These meetings focused on expanding trade, investment, and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

The Russian side stated that increasing bilateral trade turnover was a key priority. “Specific steps were discussed to create favourable conditions for increasing bilateral trade turnover in the present context,” the statement noted. This reflects a broader effort to strengthen economic engagement despite global uncertainties.

Nuclear energy cooperation was another important area of discussion. Russia and India are continuing their collaboration on the Kudankulam nuclear power plant project. Manturov said that Russia sees strong potential for expanding cooperation in nuclear energy. The construction of reactors at the site is progressing as per agreed timelines. Both countries are also exploring partnerships in sectors such as industry, space, and education.

Manturov’s visit came shortly after foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko held foreign office consultations in New Delhi. These discussions reviewed the overall progress of bilateral relations and prepared the ground for further cooperation.

The visit also followed India’s decision to procure five additional S-400 air defence systems from Russia. This decision was influenced by the system’s performance during Operation Sindoor, a four-day conflict with Pakistan last year. India had earlier signed a $5-billion deal with Russia in October 2018 for five S-400 systems. The deal went ahead despite warnings from the United States about possible sanctions under the CAATSA law. So far, three systems have been delivered, while the remaining two have been delayed due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Overall, Manturov’s visit underlined the growing importance of India-Russia ties, especially in energy, defence, and strategic cooperation. Both sides appear committed to strengthening their partnership in a changing global environment.