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This article explores India's response to the Ukraine crisis and its decision not to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It examines various factors that contribute to India's reluctance, such as its fear of pushing Russia closer to China, its reliance on Russia for weaponry, a sense of nostalgia from the Cold War era, and economic benefits from maintaining silence. The article concludes that India is unlikely to change its stance on Russia in the near future, which could impact its alignment with the United States. It also discusses India's longstanding partnership with Russia and how it influences India's foreign policy decisions, particularly in relation to Russia's actions in Ukraine. The article suggests that India's ties to Russia may hinder its ability to develop a closer relationship with the United States, potentially allowing China and Russia to gain influence in the region. [Extracted from the article]

India and Russia have enjoyed a strong relationship since the collapse of the Soviet Union, partially as a legacy of the Indo-Soviet partnership during the Cold War. But how will this invasion impact future relations between New Delhi and Moscow? We argue that the war will likely harm this relationship over the long term, although some scenarios might minimize this harm. Western sanctions and Russian material losses in the war will make it difficult for Russia to fulfill Indian arms orders, especially if the sanctions regime remains in place for several years, forcing India to turn to other sources of weapons, including the United States. Its increasing isolation from Europe could also force Russia to move even closer to India's rival China, making India less secure. There may be opportunities to improve energy ties between India and Russia, but Western sanctions and geographic barriers will limit any energy gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]