DST News: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled Moscow’s readiness to ensure “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India, even as New Delhi faces mounting pressure from Washington to scale back its purchases of Russian oil.
Standing beside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, Putin questioned why India should face penalties for buying Russian crude when the United States continues purchasing nuclear fuel from Russia.
The Trump administration has slapped a 50% tariff on most Indian goods, arguing that India’s continued intake of Russian oil indirectly supports Moscow’s war in Ukraine—a charge Delhi strongly rejects.
Putin’s visit comes at a time when the US is engaged in intense negotiations with Russia and Ukraine in an effort to shape a possible peace deal.
In an interview with India Today on Thursday, Putin said Russia was working toward a “peaceful solution” to the conflict, but insisted Ukraine must withdraw from the Donbas or risk Russia taking the territory by force. “Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave,” he said.
Modi reiterated that India was “on the side of peace” and welcomed any effort that could deliver a durable settlement. He also highlighted expanding “connectivity” between India and Russia as a key priority.
Relations between India and the United States have reached a new low in recent months, with the tariff dispute showing little sign of resolution.
Trump initially imposed a 25% tariff on India, later doubling it as retaliation for Delhi’s oil purchases from Russia—a move India denounced as “unfair” and “unreasonable”.
Responding to the issue, Putin argued that India should be afforded the same options as Washington. “The United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own power plants. If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India have the same privilege?” he said.
Despite recently passed legislation banning future Russian enriched uranium imports, Russia remained the US’ largest supplier of nuclear reactor fuel last year, according to Department of Energy data cited by Bloomberg.
During Friday’s joint briefing, Modi and Putin exchanged several memorandums covering cooperation in trade, agriculture, shipping and critical minerals. Modi announced new 30-day visa schemes for Russian tourists and confirmed the opening of two additional Indian consulates in Russia.
Russia Today, the Kremlin-backed television network, will also launch in India, the prime minister said.
While no major defense deals were unveiled, both leaders said agreements had been signed in shipbuilding, civil nuclear investment and mineral resources. They also endorsed a joint economic roadmap running until 2030.
Putin expressed confidence that bilateral trade—currently about $60bn—could rise to $100bn in the coming years. Modi described energy security as a cornerstone of the India-Russia partnership, though he avoided specific mention of oil.
India, the world’s third-largest consumer of crude, has been a significant buyer of discounted Russian oil since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But some Indian companies have begun scaling back purchases to comply with US sanctions.
Putin also pointed to what he termed a “flagship project”: Russia’s assistance in building India’s largest nuclear power plant.
A joint statement following the meeting said the partnership was being “reoriented” toward joint research, development, and production of advanced defense platforms. Putin added that Moscow and Delhi share a vision of a “more just” and “multi-polar” world, underscoring their collaboration within the Brics group—an alliance of major emerging economies formed in 2006 to counterbalance Western dominance.
Source: BBC
