The European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday that India’s participation in military exercises with Moscow and its continued purchases of Russian oil are obstacles to deepening ties with the bloc’s, underscoring a key challenge in EU-India relations.“Ultimately, our partnership is not only about trade, but also about defending the rules-based international order,” Kallas said as she unveiled the EU’s new strategy to strengthen cooperation with India. The strategy focuses on boosting defence, security, technology, and climate collaboration alongside trade.India, which has taken part in Russia’s Zapad joint military drills with Belarus this month, remains among Moscow’s few allies. Parts of the exercises took place near NATO borders. “Participating in military exercises, purchases of oil – all these are obstacles to our cooperation when it comes to deepening the ties,” Kallas noted.Despite differing stances on Russia, the EU and India are pursuing negotiations on a free trade agreement, aiming to conclude talks by the end of 2025. The effort comes amid growing tensions between New Delhi and Washington after the US imposed a 50 power cent tariff on most Indian exports last month, in response to India’s Russian oil purchases.The EU is India’s largest trading partner, with trade increasing by 90 per cent over the last decade, said EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic during the Brussels announcement. Senior officials from both sides are expected to meet for a high-level summit early next year.EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of shared values in advancing the relationship, in a post she said, “Now is the time to double down on partnerships rooted in shared interests and guided by common values. With our new EU–India strategy, we are taking our relationship to the next level.”