‘Emerging Superpower’: Finland Urges EU To Engage India, Not Club It With Russia, China

Last Updated:September 24, 2025, 19:17 IST

Finland President Alexander Stubb said India has economy and demography on its side.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the West should not club New Delhi with Beijing and Moscow and must engage with India. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Finland President Alexander Stubb insisted that the West should not club India with Russia and China and said the West should engage with India.

Western countries led by US have expressed their disapproval on many occasions of India’s close ties with Russia and trade relations of both nations following the war in Ukraine, with India’s crude oil purchases being a topic of concern, despite India’s support for bilateral dialogue to end the war.

“Some multi-vectoral foreign policy is taking place there. I think, of course, Russia and China have a direct connection. In the early 1990s China and Russia had economies of the same size, but now China is over 10 times bigger. And actually, with its oil purchase, with its gas purchase, with its technological exchange, it does give the possibility for Russia to conduct the war, so there’s a very close link there,” said Stubb in an appearance on Bloomberg Podcasts.

“Then of course with India, India is a very close ally of the European Union and of course of the United States as well, so I wouldn’t throw them in the same basket, but India is obviously an emerging superpower. It’s got demography. It’s got economy on its side, and I always argue that it’s very important for the West to engage India, work with them,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to echo similar sentiments in a conversation with Fox News journalist and conservative commentator Brett Baier.

Zelenskyy appeared to differ with Baier that India was “contributing” to the war in Ukraine referring to India’s crude oil purchases – which New Delhi maintains it will continue to do in a manner that benefits Indians.

“I think India mostly with us. Yes, we have these questions with energy, but I think that President Trump can manage it,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukraine President’s comments on Fox appeared to differ from what US, major weapons supplier to Ukraine in its war against Russia, and President Donald Trump and his administration thinks.

The US has accused India of funding the war in Ukraine and US President Donald Trump imposed tariff penalty for buying Russian crude oil.

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More

Read More

Go to Source