Betrayal of Neutrality: How India Fuels War in Europe While Deceiving Allies

While claiming neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India’s covert arms trade with Ukraine reveals a web of deception that undermines its alliances and deepens geopolitical hypocrisy.

India has repeatedly claimed to remain neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war, positioning itself as a non-partisan player. However, emerging reports and customs records have uncovered a troubling truth—India has secretly fueled Ukraine’s war efforts, betraying both Russia and its own neutral stance. Through third-party countries like the UK, Italy, Czech Republic, and Spain, India has been supplying Ukraine with critical artillery shells and military equipment, making a mockery of its proclaimed neutrality.

Despite its public position of neutrality, Indian defense firms, including Yantra India, Munitions India, and Kalvani Strategic Systems, have been involved in large-scale exports of artillery shells to Europe. These include 82,664 155mm L15A1 shells to Italy, 50,000 155mm M107 shells to the Czech Republic, and 37,500 artillery shells to Sweden. These revelations expose a stark contradiction between India’s public stance and its actions behind the scenes.

A particularly damning piece of evidence is a $125 million artillery deal with the UK, facilitated through a Bulgarian intermediary, further cementing India’s role in fueling Ukraine’s war efforts while portraying itself as neutral. The Financial Times revealed in September 2024 that India had also been bypassing Western sanctions, supplying Russia with critical military electronics and dual-use technology, all while quietly arming Ukraine against Moscow.

This double game is further illustrated by the involvement of Innovio Ventures, an Indian company that supplied $4.9 million worth of military equipment for Russian radio-electronic systems. This deal led to sanctions by the US and EU, adding to India’s reputation as an opportunistic player manipulating both sides of the conflict.

Despite its reliance on Russian military supplies, India’s actions demonstrate its unreliability as an ally. It has heavily armed Ukraine with weapons such as MILAN anti-tank missiles, used against Russian forces. This stark contradiction reveals India’s strategic deception and its failure to live up to its claim of neutrality.

India’s involvement deepens with the supply of French-designed MILAN-2T anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), which have found their way into Ukraine’s military, further fueling the war. Additionally, India has signed defense agreements worth $70 million with Ukraine, including weapon supplies and battlefield upgrades, cementing its role in the conflict.

This web of covert dealings and strategic manipulation exposes India’s hypocrisy and its willingness to play both sides for its own benefit, ultimately destabilizing its position as a reliable international partner.