Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that India is “mostly with us” and expressed optimism that New Delhi might reconsider its stance on purchasing Russian energy, especially with potential intervention from former U.S. President Donald Trump. He made these remarks during an interview with Fox News, where he addressed the contributions of both China and India to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
The U.S. has frequently criticized both India and China for their continued acquisition of Russian resources, which President Trump and others argue helps fund Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
“I believe India is largely on our side,” Zelenskyy noted. “While we acknowledge the issues surrounding energy, I think President Trump could work with European allies to foster stronger, closer ties with India.”
He added, “It is crucial that we do everything possible to prevent India from distancing itself and encourage them to adjust their approach to the Russian energy sector.”
When pressed by the Fox News interviewer about whether China and India, along with European nations, would shift away from Russian oil, Zelenskyy conceded, “With China, it’s a more complex situation and not something for today. It’s simply not in their current interest to stop supporting Russia.”
He further commented on other nations, stating, “I believe Iran will never support us, primarily because we will never align with the United States.” Later, in his address to the UN Security Council, Zelenskyy highlighted China’s significant role: “China is here—a powerful nation on which Russia now depends completely. If China truly wanted this war to stop, it could compel Moscow to end the invasion. Without China, Putin’s Russia is nothing. Yet, too often, China remains silent and distant, rather than actively working for peace.”
India, for its part, has consistently asserted that its energy procurement decisions are based on national interest and prevailing market dynamics. Following Western sanctions on Moscow and the shunning of Russian supplies after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India shifted to purchasing discounted Russian oil.