Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent two-day trip to India, culminating in a summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 5, has spotlighted deepening bilateral ties while drawing sharp rebukes from Europe. The visit, celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership, produced key pacts on energy security, defense cooperation, and trade expansion—moves that underscore India's commitment to pragmatic diplomacy despite Western pressures.​

European diplomats from Germany, France, and the UK fired a pre-visit salvo with a joint op-ed in an Indian outlet, decrying Russia's Ukraine actions and questioning New Delhi's warm embrace of Putin. Leaders like Germany's Friedrich Merz and France's Emmanuel Macron have ramped up criticism, frustrated by India's surging imports of discounted Russian oil, which now meet over 60% of its needs even as U.S. tariffs climb to 50%. Yet, this outcry ignores Europe's own historical missteps, such as heavy reliance on Russian gas and NATO's eastward push, which fueled the current standoff.​

India, meanwhile, navigated the summit with finesse, securing promises of uninterrupted Russian fuel supplies alongside new ventures in fertilizers, nuclear tech, and worker mobility. Modi greeted Putin personally at the airport, a gesture Russian media hailed as a snub to "fuming" Western foes. This isn't blind loyalty—India balances by advocating Ukraine peace talks and sourcing arms diversely, much like relying on Soviet-era support during the 1971 war when others balked.​

Europe expects India to sever Moscow links over a conflict half a world away, overlooking New Delhi's energy crunch and growth imperatives. Sanctions have complicated payments but not derailed trade, projected to hit ambitious 2030 targets in shipping and agriculture. Analysts note U.S. pressure under President Trump to downgrade these ties has backfired, exposing limits of Western leverage on multipolar players.​ As Putin departed after a state dinner, the summit signals India's unapologetic autonomy: Europe's woes, from energy shocks to security gaps, stem from its choices-not India's pursuit of stable partners. With global eyes watching, this episode reinforces that finger-pointing won't rewrite geopolitics.