Speaking at SPIEF, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov said Russia-India relations remain strong despite shifting global geopolitics. Bilateral trade reached $463 billion, making India one of Russia’s most important trading partners. Russia currently supplies 60% of India’s petroleum imports and 21% of its fertiliser needs. Alipov also called for greater use of national currencies in trade, stronger banking cooperation, a potential India-EAEU free trade agreement, and deeper collaboration in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, railways, shipbuilding, aviation and manufacturing. He emphasized expanding skilled workforce exchanges and boosting Indian exports to Russia.