Putin Defends India's Right to Purchase Russian Oil Despite US Pressure

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States for pressuring India to halt its Russian crude oil trade, asserting that New Delhi would never submit to such demands or allow itself to be humiliated. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club's plenary session in Sochi, Putin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "balanced and wise leader" while emphasizing the "special" relationship between Moscow and New Delhi.

Putin described India's purchase of Russian crude oil as "purely an economic calculation" without political implications. "If India refuses our energy supplies, it will suffer certain losses. Estimates vary; some say it could be around $9-10 billion. But if it doesn't refuse, sanctions will be imposed, and the loss will be the same. So why refuse if it also carries domestic political costs?" Putin questioned.

"The people of a country like India will closely monitor the decisions made by the political leadership and will never allow any humiliation in front of anyone. And I know Prime Minister Modi; he himself would never take any steps of this kind... The losses faced by India due to punitive US tariffs would be balanced by crude imports from Russia, plus it will gain prestige as a sovereign nation," he added.

Putin's comments follow US President Donald Trump's recent United Nations General Assembly address, where Trump labeled China and India as the "primary funders" of the Ukraine war through their continued Russian oil purchases. The US has imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on India as punishment for buying Russian oil, increasing the total tax on Indian exports to 50 percent in August.

The Russian leader warned that higher tariffs on trading partners could drive up global prices and force the US Federal Reserve to maintain high interest rates.

Putin highlighted the "special" nature of Russia-India relations dating back to the Soviet era when India was fighting for independence. "In India, they remember this, they know it, and they value it. We appreciate that India has not forgotten it... We have never had any problems or interstate tensions with India. Never," he emphasized.

Referring to Prime Minister Modi as his friend, Putin expressed comfort in their trustworthy interactions and described Modi as a "balanced, wise" and "nationally oriented" leader.

Acknowledging the trade imbalance between New Delhi and Moscow, Putin suggested that Russia might purchase more agricultural products and medicines from India to address this issue.

"More agricultural products may be purchased from India. Certain steps can be undertaken from our side for medicinal products, pharmaceuticals... We need to solve a whole range of tasks to unlock our opportunities and potential advantages," Putin stated, identifying financing, logistics, and payment bottlenecks as key concerns.

He also noted that the declaration of a special strategic privileged partnership between Russia and India will soon celebrate its 15th anniversary, declaring, "That's what it really is." Putin emphasized that Russia and India almost always coordinate their actions in political relations.

"We always hear and take into account the positions of our countries on various key issues. Our foreign ministries work very closely together," Putin concluded.