Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly criticised the U.S. government for attempting to coerce India into halting energy imports from Moscow, warning that such pressure tactics would have adverse consequences for Washington. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club, held in Sochi and attended by global security and geopolitical experts from 140 countries, Putin asserted that India’s energy decisions are based solely on national interest not foreign influence.

Putin voiced strong support for India’s leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and emphasised that New Delhi would never surrender its sovereign decision-making under external pressure. “The people of a country like India, believe me, will closely monitor the decisions made by the political leadership and will never allow any humiliation in front of anyone,” he said.

The Russian leader, who is scheduled to visit India in December, underscored the longstanding partnership between the two nations and described the relationship as “special,” rooted in decades of trust and historical solidarity. “We have never had any problems or interstate tensions with India. Never,” he noted.

He referred to Prime Minister Modi as a personal friend and praised his leadership qualities, calling him “a balanced, wise, and nationally oriented leader.” Putin added, “I know Prime Minister Modi; he himself would never take any steps of this kind.”

At the heart of the dispute lies Washington’s imposition of steep tariffs on Indian goods, seen by Moscow as retaliation for India’s continued purchase of Russian crude. The Trump administration recently raised U.S. tariffs on Indian exports, including pharmaceutical products and industrial goods, to as high as 50%. This, according to Putin, is both unfair and self-damaging.

He warned that penalising energy trade partners like India would push global energy prices even higher, which in turn would force the U.S. Federal Reserve to keep interest rates elevated. “This will slow down the U.S. economy,” Putin cautioned, hinting that the global repercussions of such policies would be far-reaching.

While defending India’s oil imports from Russia, he stressed that New Delhi’s decisions are driven by economic logic. “There is no political aspect here; it’s purely an economic calculation,” he said. According to Putin, if India ceases its energy dealings with Russia, the resulting financial loss could reach up to $10 billion.

Putin argued that the financial impact of U.S. tariffs could be mitigated through continued energy imports from Russia, along with the added benefit of reinforcing India’s global image as an independent power. “The losses faced by India due to punitive U.S. tariffs would be balanced by crude imports from Russia, plus it will gain prestige as a sovereign nation,” he said.

To address the growing trade imbalance primarily caused by India’s significant crude oil imports Putin instructed Russian authorities to explore increased imports of Indian products. “More agricultural products may be purchased from India. Certain steps can be undertaken from our side for medicinal products, pharmaceuticals,” he stated, indicating that Russia is actively working to expand its procurement from India.

Putin also acknowledged logistical and financial challenges that currently hinder stronger trade cooperation. He called for comprehensive solutions in areas such as payment systems and cross-border transport. “We need to solve the whole range of tasks to unlock our opportunities and potential advantages,” he added.

Highlighting their close diplomatic alignment, Putin mentioned that India and Russia maintain regular coordination on major global issues. He emphasised that both nations respect each other’s strategic concerns and maintain close communication through their foreign ministries.

In a forward-looking gesture, Putin welcomed a suggestion from Dr. Arvind Gupta, head of the Vivekananda International Foundation in New Delhi, to create a joint fund for advancing artificial intelligence and emerging technologies an initiative that may be explored further during his December visit.

As U.S.-India trade tensions escalate, Moscow has positioned itself as a steadfast partner for New Delhi, offering both economic cooperation and diplomatic solidarity. Putin’s remarks make it clear that Russia sees India not just as a buyer of energy, but as a strategic ally unwilling to compromise its autonomy.