Trump-Putin call signals thaw in US-Russia ties; sets stage for Saudi meeting, boosting India's strategic interests

The first phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Summit with PM Narendra Modi will be music to India's ears as thaw in ties between USA and Russia could enable New Delhi to breathe easy and expand its strategic partnership with Moscow.

Trump following the much-anticipated phone call on Wednesday announced that he is expected to meet Putin in Saudi Arabia in the not-so-distant future for Ukraine peace talks. Coinciding with this, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders was unrealistic and the Trump administration does not see NATO membership for Kyiv as part of a solution.

India while staying neutral in the Ukraine war and refusing to join sanctions has advocated that solutions cannot be found in battlefields and affirmed that it is not 'an era of war'. New Delhi also played a role in passing on important messages to Russia and Ukraine over the last three years.


Sources pointed out that India pursues an approach of strategic autonomy and works in its national interests. Improved ties between the US and Russia could also result in Moscow reducing dependence on China and that serves India's interests. While Russia emerged as India's number one oil supplier during the last three years, the Biden administration had created irritants by sanctioning certain Russian energy entities and Indian businesses dealing in certain technology sectors with Russia.

Over the past three years the two sides (Biden administration & India) had some difficult conversations on Russia as India continued to maintain its defence partnership with Moscow and there was discomfiture on timing of Modi's visit to the Russian capital for the annual summit coinciding with the NATO Summit in July 2024, recalled persons familiar with the issue. There are reports that some defence supplies from the USA to India have been delayed in the backdrop of India-Russia ties.

New Delhi is hopeful that certain sanctions from Russia may be lifted after the ceasefire and peace deal enabling smoother transactions for trade and investments. It is interesting to note that Russia provided the venue through the BRICS Kazan Summit for Modi's meeting with the Chinese President in October 2024 that has set the ball rolling for stabilization of ties. India considers that its ties with Russia enables to maintain balance in Eurasia amid rising Chinese ambitions.