Try GOLD - Free
India faces balancing act on Russia amid US trade talks
Hindustan Times Lucknow
|October 29, 2025
India will have to contend with an increasingly delicate balancing act between negotiating a trade deal and repairing ties with the US and maintaining its legacy relationship with Russia ahead of a planned visit by President Vladimir Putin in December, according to people familiar with the matter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO summit held in China this September.
(REUTERS)
The situation has been complicated by US President Donald Trump's decision to sanction Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil— his first such action against Russia in his second term — amid growing frustration with the lack of progress in his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. These sanctions are set to kick in on November 21, barely a fortnight before Putin is expected in India for an annual summit.
With Indian refiners reviewing Russian oil purchases after the announcement of the sanctions, Reliance Industries, the top importer of Russian oil, has said it will adapt “refinery operations to meet the compliance requirements’.
“There has been a reduction in Russian oil purchases but the possibility of it going down to zero looks unlikely,” one of the people cited above said on Monday on condition of anonymity.
This story is from the October 29, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Lucknow.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Hindustan Times Lucknow
Hindustan Times Lucknow
Two leaplings who nearly changed India’s history
If this were a leap year, there would have been a February 29, instead of March 1 following February 28.
4 mins
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
Global shipping disrupted as many vessels targeted
Insurance companies are cancelling war risk coverage for vessels in the Gulf as the widening Iran conflict disrupted shipping, leaving at east four tankers damaged, a seafarer killed and 150 ships stranded around the Strait of Hormuz.
2 mins
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
Strikes, counterstrikes as war spirals
The war in the Middle East spiralled further on Monday as Israel and the US pounded Iran.
3 mins
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
TOXIC GAS LEAKS FROM PALGHAR CHEMICAL UNIT; 2,600 EVACUATED
A massive leak of hazardous oleum gas at a chemical unit in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on Monday led to the evacuation of over 2,600 people, including 1,600 school students, while three persons complained of minor eye irritation, officials said.
1 min
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
From subs to superstars, a Cup story
On his knees, arms slightly spread, palms upturned, the image of Sanju Samson looking up will linger long after the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup ends.
3 mins
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
Iran’s missile barrage tests whether US forces have enough interceptors
The ability of the US, Israel and Gulf Arab states to ‘weather Iran's retaliatory strikes will depend on how many missile interceptors they have —and stocks are most likely dangerously low after intense combat with the Islamic Republic last year.
2 mins
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
IIP growth slows to 4.8% in Jan
India’s industrial activity slowed in January, with the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rising 4.8% year-on-year, easing from a revised 8% in December, data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Monday showed.
1 mins
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
MANUFACTURING PMI RISES TO 56.9 IN FEBRUARY
NEW DELHI: India’s manufacturing activity strengthened further in February, supported by a pickup in domestic demand, though export order growth slowed to its weakest pace in nearly a year-and-a-half, according to the latest HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) released by S&P Global on Monday.
1 min
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
Rupee comes under pressure, hits 91.47
The rupee fell to its weakest level since late January on Monday after a sharp escalation in the Iran-US conflict over the weekend pushed global crude oil prices higher and triggered a risk-off mood across emerging markets.
1 mins
March 03, 2026
Hindustan Times Lucknow
From the rough: Sanju Samson overcomes doubt to find belief
Not first-choice opener, Samson’s match-winning 97* was hailed by skipper and coach after win
3 mins
March 03, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size