‘India Won’t Accept Humiliation’: Putin Slams US, Backs PM Modi On Russian Oil Trade
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday delivered a strong defense of India’s energy trade with Moscow, slamming the Donald Trump administration for its pressure tactics and asserting that a sovereign nation like India “will never allow itself to be humiliated.” Speaking at the international Valdai discussion forum in Sochi, Putin lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a friend who would never bow to outside pressure, warning that Washington’s attempts to curb Russian oil trade would ultimately backfire on the US economy.
Putin argued that imposing higher tariffs on Russia’s trading partners would only drive up global energy prices, forcing the US Federal Reserve to maintain high interest rates and thereby slowing down the American economy. He expressed deep confidence in the Indian leadership, stating, “I know Prime Minister Modi; he himself would never take any steps of this kind.” Putin estimated that if India were to stop buying Russian energy, it would face losses between $9 billion and $10 billion, and that its people would not tolerate such a decision made under duress.
Looking ahead to his planned visit to India in early December, Putin also addressed the trade imbalance resulting from India’s heavy crude imports. He revealed that he has ordered his government to devise measures to correct this, suggesting Russia could increase its purchase of Indian agricultural products and pharmaceuticals. Reinforcing the historic ties between the two nations, the Russian leader noted, “We have never had any problems or interstate tensions with India. Never.”In a final sharp critique, Putin pointed out what he described as Washington’s hypocrisy.
He highlighted that while the US pressures countries like India to shun Russian energy, the United States itself remains a major importer of Russian uranium to fuel its own nuclear power plants. “Russia is the second-largest supplier of uranium to the American market,” he stated, underscoring the complex web of global dependencies.
