India faces balancing act on Russia amid US trade talks

The situation has been complicated by US President Donald Trump’s decision to sanction Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil

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, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak during a meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China in 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