Putin to U.S.: If You Buy Russian Fuel, Why Can’t India?
Putin exposes US double standards on Russian energy imports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply questioned the United States’ right to criticize India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil while Washington continues to import Russian nuclear fuel for its own power plants. Speaking to India Today shortly after arriving in New Delhi for a two-day state visit, Putin highlighted what he described as inconsistent Western sanctions policy following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“If the United States has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India have the same privilege?” Putin declared, adding that the issue “deserves thorough examination” and that Russia remains open to discussions, including with President Donald Trump. The remarks come amid intensified U.S. pressure on New Delhi and the recent imposition of punitive 50 percent tariffs on certain Indian exports.
Despite Western sanctions, India has emerged as the largest buyer of seaborne Russian crude, helping sustain Moscow’s energy revenues. Putin insisted that oil and petroleum product trade with India “is running smoothly,” characterizing any recent decline in overall bilateral turnover as a minor adjustment. Two-way trade, which surged to nearly $69 billion in 2024-25, remains heavily skewed toward energy imports.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended an unusually warm welcome to Putin, personally receiving him at the airport—a rare protocol gesture—followed by an embrace and a private dinner. The leaders are expected to announce multiple agreements during summit talks on Friday, with both sides aiming to reach $100 billion in annual trade by 2030 and diversify beyond energy and defense.
The visit underscores the enduring strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow, even as India seeks new markets for exports affected by U.S. tariffs and Russia pushes for greater imports of Indian automobiles, electronics, machinery, and consumer goods to balance the lopsided trade relationship.
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