In August 2025, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward India were mostly neutral and partly negative. This is evidenced by the results of an all-Ukrainian sociological survey conducted by Active Group in cooperation with the Experts Club information and analytical center.
According to the results, only 16.0% of Ukrainian citizens demonstrated a positive attitude toward India (11.0% – mostly positive, 5.0% – completely positive). This country is negatively rated by 26.3% of respondents (20 . 7% – mostly negative, 5.7% – completely negative). At the same time, the vast majority – 55.3% – expressed a neutral attitude, and 2.7% said they did not have enough information.
“India remains one of the most important global players, but the country is not clearly defined in the public opinion of Ukrainians. This is influenced by both New Delhi’s political decisions in the international arena and limited cultural communication with Ukraine,” commented Maksym Urakin, founder of Experts Club.
He also drew attention to the economic dimension of bilateral relations:
“In the first half of 2025, the trade turnover between Ukraine and India amounted to more than $1.1 billion. At the same time, Ukrainian exports amounted to only $401.9 million, while imports from India exceeded $702 million. The negative balance of more than $300 million demonstrates a structural imbalance in trade,” Urakin emphasized.
In his turn, Active Group co-founder Oleksandr Poznyi added that these results indicate a cautious attitude of Ukrainians:
“Despite India’s economic weight and global status, the country remains remote and little understood for many Ukrainians. This explains the high level of neutral assessments and the low expression of positive emotions in society,” he emphasized.
The survey is part of a broader research program that analyzes international sympathies and antipathies of Ukrainians in the current geopolitical context.
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ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, INDIA, Poznyi, SOCIOLOGY, TRADE, URAKIN
India has again opposed the expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), rejecting Azerbaijan’s application for full membership. This was reported by AnewZ, citing diplomatic sources cited by the media. X (formerly Twitter)+14EADaily+14Report.az+14
On the other hand, Pakistan has so far refrained from supporting Armenia’s accession to the SCO. Pakistan’s geopolitical ties with Azerbaijan, as well as its historical positions in the conflicts of the region can become an obstacle in Yerevan’s way.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an intergovernmental regional bloc founded in 2001 in Shanghai. Now it has 10 full members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus.
In 2025, Armenia and Azerbaijan applied for full SCO membership status (previously they were observers or dialog partners). Their ratification requires the approval of all current members.
Ukraine is increasing exports of sunflower oil to India. In July 2025, it supplied 78,000 tons to this country, which is 57% more than in June, according to the analytical agency UkrAgroConsult.
The agency cited Indian sources, according to which Ukrainian oil accounted for 39% of total imports of this product to India in July, which amounted to 200,000 tons. Thus, for the first time since the start of the war,
Ukraine has overtaken Russia, whose exports to India in this segment amounted to 49,000 tons, or 25% of the total volume imported into the country.
“In recent seasons, Russia has dominated the Indian sunflower oil market, while Ukraine’s share has fluctuated between 13% and 34%. However, in the second half of the 2024/25 season, Russian producers reduced production volumes due to low profitability, which led to a decrease in supply on foreign markets. An additional factor was the non-zero export duty on Russian oil,” experts explained.
According to analysts, Ukraine exported 767,000 tons of sunflower oil to India between September 2024 and July 2025, which is 55% more than in the same period of the previous season.
“This figure is a record since 2022, confirming India’s position as a key importer of Ukrainian oil. The growth in exports reflects the stable recovery of Ukraine’s position in the global market,” UkrAgroConsult concluded.
US President Donald Trump has decided to impose additional tariffs of 25% on India due to its purchase of Russian oil, according to a presidential decree published by the White House.
“Thus, goods from India imported into the US will be subject to ad valorem duties of 25%,” the document says.
“I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to impose ad valorem duties on imports from India that directly or indirectly purchase oil from the Russian Federation,” Trump explained in the decree.
Ad valorem duties are levied as a fixed percentage of the price of the goods, rather than per unit of cargo.
At the same time, the order specifies that it applies not only to oil of Russian origin, but also to petroleum products.
“The term ‘oil of the Russian Federation’ means crude oil and petroleum products extracted, refined, and exported from the Russian Federation, regardless of the nationality of the company involved in the production or sale of oil or petroleum products,” the document explains.
The term “indirect import” is also clarified, which, according to the US, means the purchase of Russian oil through intermediaries or third countries, whereby the origin of the oil can be traced back to Russia if the head of the Ministry of Trade, who consulted with the Secretary of State and the head of the Ministry of Finance, comes to such conclusions.
Last week, Trump announced that he was imposing 25% tariffs on Indian goods, as well as “penalties” for India’s purchase of Russian oil and weapons. Trump later expressed hope that India would stop buying Russian oil.
Trump then threatened to seriously increase tariffs on Indian exports, arguing that India’s purchases of Russian oil contribute to the continuation of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.
In turn, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that the US and EU’s dissatisfaction with Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil was unfounded. Trump’s threats were also condemned by the ruling party and the opposition in India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said New Delhi will deny Pakistan access to water resources from Indian territory because of Islamabad’s hostile policies.
“Pakistan will not get a drop of water that belongs to India. Playing games with Indian lives will cost Pakistan dearly,” Hindustan Times quoted the prime minister as saying.
He also recalled New Delhi’s stance that talks with Islamabad would be held only on the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir.
Earlier it was reported that the Indian side, despite the truce with Islamabad after the exchange of blows in May, has not yet returned to the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, which regulates the use of water from several rivers by the parties.
Meanwhile, according to Dawn, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of one of the country’s ruling Pakistan People’s Party, said the previous day that peace in South Asia could be achieved if only India and Pakistan agreed on three issues – Kashmir, counter-terrorism and water.
“The people of the two countries desire peace which is not possible without solving the three issues of Kashmir, terrorism and water,” he said.
The politician also expressed deep concern over India’s exploitation of the water issue for its own interests.
Dawn notes that Zardari, at the head of a Pakistani delegation, will soon travel to a number of countries to convey Islamabad’s views on the regional situation.
The treaty, concluded in 1960, governs the use by both countries of water from the Indus and several other rivers that originate in India. In a new round of tensions between the countries that began in April 2025, India suspended implementation of the treaty and closed the locks on some river dams. Islamabad fears that such actions could cause drought in Pakistani territory.
Against the backdrop of escalating tensions in Kashmir in May 2025, India and Pakistan once again found themselves on the brink of military conflict. After a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, India accused Pakistani militants of being responsible, which led to a sharp deterioration in relations between the two countries. Pakistan, in turn, rejected the accusations and conducted missile tests, demonstrating its readiness to take appropriate measures.
Let’s take a look at the military capabilities of these two countries.
India’s military capabilities
Troop strength: 1.45 million active military personnel, 1.15 million reservists, and over 2.5 million paramilitary personnel.
Ground forces: 3,740 main battle tanks (T-90 Bhishma, Arjun), 9,743 artillery units, including modern Pinaka and Dhanush systems.
Air force: approximately 2,229 aircraft, including 600 fighter jets (Rafale, Su-30MKI), 899 helicopters, and 831 support aircraft.
Navy: 75,500 personnel, 150 ships, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and Arihant-class ballistic missile submarines.
Nuclear arsenal: approximately 170–200 warheads, a “no first strike” policy, delivery systems — Agni (I–V), Prithvi, BrahMos missiles, as well as sea and air platforms.
Technological achievements: development of hypersonic missiles (BM-04), laser air defense systems (IDD&IS Mk2A), integration of theater commands, and the Integrated Battle Groups concept for rapid mobilization.
Pakistan’s military potential
Number: approximately 700,000 active military personnel: 560,000 in the army, 70,000 in the air force, and 30,000 in the navy.
Army: 2,537 main battle tanks (T-80, Al-Khalid), 4,619 artillery pieces.
Air Force: approximately 1,387 aircraft, including JF-17 Thunder and F-16 fighter jets, as well as Chinese drones.
Navy: 30,000 personnel, 9 frigates, 5 submarines, including new Chinese S20s.
Nuclear arsenal: approximately 170–190 warheads, a “first strike” doctrine with an emphasis on tactical nuclear weapons, including Nasr (Hatf-9) missiles with a range of up to 70 km.
Technological achievements: joint programs with China for the production of fighter jets, modernization of air defense, development of missile technologies.
The situation remains tense:
Pakistan has conducted two missile tests, including the launch of a Fatah missile with a range of 120 km.
India has stepped up security measures and conducted exercises in several states.
Both countries have closed their airspace and suspended trade.
International actors are calling for de-escalation.
Experts warn that even a limited conflict could escalate into a nuclear confrontation, given the doctrines of the parties and historical experience.
