New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- In a year marked by wars, sanctions and sharpening trade tensions, India-Russia relations were put to a clear test. As Western pressure intensified on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict and on New Delhi over its continued imports of Russian crude, the two countries leaned on their long-standing strategic partnership to navigate a sanction-hit global order.

Western pressure on Russia over the Ukraine conflict remained intense, with fresh restrictions on oil exports and financial system. India, meanwhile, found itself under growing scrutiny from the United States for continuing to buy Russian crude. US President Donald Trump's administration imposed higher tariffs on Indian goods and repeatedly warned New Delhi against ...