Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed suggestions that New Delhi’s expanding engagement with Washington will weaken its partnership with Moscow, saying pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Russia ties would be “useless” and damaging to international relations.
Putin’s remarks, made during an interaction in St Petersburg, were aimed at reassuring New Delhi at a time when India is balancing deeper cooperation with the United States against decades-old defence, energy and diplomatic links with Russia. He described India as a reliable partner, praised its independent foreign policy and said the relationship with Moscow was not directed against any third country.
The comments come as Washington continues to push partners to reduce economic exposure to Russia, particularly in energy, while also seeking closer trade, technology and defence links with New Delhi. Putin said India had the capacity to resist outside pressure and argued that attempts to force a change in its position would not succeed.
Moscow and New Delhi have maintained a “special and privileged strategic partnership” through repeated shifts in global alignments. Russia remains a major supplier of defence platforms to India, while energy trade has expanded sharply since the Ukraine war changed global crude flows. Discounted Russian oil helped New Delhi contain import costs, even as Western governments sought to curb Moscow’s revenues through sanctions, price caps and shipping restrictions.
Putin said trade between the two countries could reach $100 billion in the coming years, reflecting Moscow’s push to deepen commercial ties beyond oil and arms. Bilateral trade has grown heavily in Russia’s favour because of crude purchases, leaving both sides under pressure to widen cooperation in fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, machinery, agriculture, shipping, banking channels and local-currency settlement.
New Delhi has publicly maintained that its energy decisions are guided by national interest, price stability and supply security. Its refiners have adjusted Russian crude purchases at different points because of sanctions risk, shipping constraints, payment issues and changing discounts, but Russia has remained among the country’s key suppliers. The government has also continued to argue that affordable energy is essential for a large developing economy.
The United States has nevertheless kept pressure on trade and supply chains. A proposed 12.5 per cent tariff linked to forced labour concerns has added another layer of strain to negotiations, even as both sides continue talks on a bilateral trade arrangement. Washington has also sought greater market access and stronger alignment on strategic technology, defence production and supply-chain security.
India’s approach has rested on strategic autonomy, a doctrine that allows it to expand partnerships with competing powers without entering formal alliances. New Delhi has grown closer to Washington through the Quad, defence exercises, semiconductor cooperation, critical minerals discussions and technology initiatives, while keeping channels with Moscow open on energy, defence spares, space cooperation and Eurasian diplomacy.
Putin’s remarks also reflect Russia’s need to preserve strong partnerships outside the Western bloc. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has relied more heavily on Asian markets and diplomatic support from countries that have avoided joining Western sanctions. India has not endorsed Russia’s war, but it has also not joined sanctions, instead calling for dialogue and respect for sovereignty while maintaining purchases of Russian commodities.
For New Delhi, the relationship with Moscow carries practical and strategic value. A large share of legacy military equipment is of Russian origin, and spare parts, maintenance and upgrades remain central to operational readiness. At the same time, India has been diversifying defence procurement through domestic production, the United States, France, Israel and other partners, reducing dependence on a single supplier over the long term.
Putin’s confidence that India-US cooperation will not damage Russia ties is also shaped by New Delhi’s effort to avoid being drawn into bloc politics. The Modi government has positioned India as a voice of the Global South, a major energy consumer, a defence modernisation power and an economy seeking investment from all major centres of influence.
