Russia’s Nuclear Energy Support for India
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that the Russian government is keen to assist India in enhancing its nuclear energy capabilities. This initiative is set to be a priority when President Vladimir Putin visits India this week.
Putin is expected to lead a delegation to the annual India-Russia summit, with Peskov mentioning that the head of Russia’s state-run nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, will likely join him.
“Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev will be part of the presidential delegation,” Peskov informed reporters, as stated by a Russian news agency. “He’s bringing a proposal for small modular reactors that will be discussed during the talks.”
“Russia has practical experience in producing these small nuclear reactors,” he went on. “I have no doubt that we are prepared to discuss this with India and share our technologies with our friends there.”
Peskov highlighted that Russia is already aiding nuclear-armed India by training personnel for power plants in civilian as well as military aspects. Additionally, Russia is involved in constructing India’s largest power station, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). There is a clear aim for a more pronounced role in India’s growing reliance on nuclear energy.
This visit follows a busy week of foreign policy engagement for Putin, who had a meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff that same week to discuss a prospective peace deal regarding Ukraine. Peskov refrained from going into detail on the Ukraine discussions, instead emphasizing the importance of preparing for Putin’s trip to India.
“The world is on the verge of something new, and we will be part of this transformation,” Peskov remarked. “We share a common vision for the future of this multipolar world. We’ve always stood by our allies, and Russia supports India. By strengthening these fruitful relations, we’re committed to fostering an environment of peace and stability for our region.”
India and Russia have enjoyed a long-standing friendship, fueled largely by Russia’s interest in selling defense technology to India and India’s recent insatiable demand for discounted oil from Russia. Both countries are also united through alliances that oppose American hegemony.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has resisted calls from Europe and the U.S. to halt financial support for the Ukraine invasion by purchasing Russian fossil fuels. Leaders in India have expressed dissatisfaction with these external pressures, particularly regarding the ongoing purchases of Russian oil, especially when European countries continue to buy large amounts of Russian natural gas.
The Indian government noted that Putin’s visit will provide a chance for both leaders to assess their bilateral relationship, define a vision for strengthening their “special and privileged strategic partnership,” and discuss shared regional and global concerns. Putin is set to meet directly with Prime Minister Modi and attend a state dinner hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu.
Neither Russia nor India has prominently addressed U.S. sanctions on the Russian oil sector, but it’s likely to be an important topic of conversation between Modi and Putin. The Trump administration had significantly ramped up pressure on Russia in October through a new round of sanctions targeting major oil companies like Lukoil and Rosneft.
Early reports indicated that these sanctions could seriously impact India’s oil business with Russia. A source identified only as “an Indian oil executive” mentioned to Bloomberg that “flow of Russian crude oil to major Indian refineries might reach zero” due to financial implications and concerns about sanction violations.
The only exception mentioned was the Rosneft-supported Nayara Energy, which has been operating under U.K. and EU sanctions and has relied solely on Russian crude since the EU sanctions took effect in July.
As reported by the Press Trust of India, India’s purchases of Russian oil have decreased by nearly one-third due to new sanctions. It was noted that imports from Russia, which stood at approximately 1.6 million barrels per day in November, could drop to around 1 million barrels per day in December.
Regarding this situation, Peskov stated, “We cannot intervene in the diplomatic relations between the U.S. and India. We recognize the pressure on India.” He added, “India is very sovereign in defining its national interests, and we admire this aspect of India. We look forward to every opportunity to sell our oil while ensuring that those who wish to purchase it can do so.”
While Rosatom and the nuclear industry make up a smaller segment of Russia’s international trade, the U.S. is taking steps to impose sanctions on Rosatom and its leadership.
