With the United States banning Russian energy imports, and Europe weighing how far to go in doing the same, President Vladimir Putin of Russia told top officials and industry representatives this past week that Moscow should be looking to redirect its energy exports to “promising markets” in “the south and the east.”

Putin ordered up plans to expand export infrastructure to Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. But the only real alternative for Russia to offset losses from Europe, its biggest customer by far, would be Asia — given its geographical proximity, economic growth and scarcity of natural resources, analysts say.

Ramping up energy deliveries to Asia, though, would require building pipelines, railways and ports in Russia’s east — a process that would take years, if not decades. It also would require political will and a commitment to increase infrastructure for countries on the receiving end.

Europe accounts for about half of Russia’s crude oil and condensate exports, three-quarters of its natural gas exports and one-third of its coal exports, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Early indications are that Russia has found interest in India and China.

India said in mid-March that it was in talks with Russia to increase oil imports at a discounted price, despite warnings by some U.S. officials that undercutting efforts to isolate Russia could have consequences.

India depends on imports for about 80% of its oil needs, with 3% of that coming from Russia.