Russia Ready For Uninterrupted Oil Supply To India, Putin Tells Modi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured India of uninterrupted oil supplies as New Delhi faces mounting pressure from the United States to halt purchases of Russian crude.

Speaking during a visit to India alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin questioned why India should be penalised for buying Russian oil when the United States continues to import nuclear fuel from Russia.

President Donald Trump recently imposed steep tariffs of up to 50 percent on most Indian exports, arguing that India’s continued purchase of Russian oil was helping to finance the war in Ukraine. The Indian government rejected the claim.

Putin’s visit comes at a time when the United States is holding a series of diplomatic talks with both Russia and Ukraine in an effort to push for a negotiated end to the conflict.

In an interview with India Today on Thursday, Putin said Russia was pursuing a “peaceful solution” to the war but warned that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from the Donbas region or face further military action.

Modi, for his part, restated that India was not neutral and stood on “the side of peace,” adding that his government supported efforts aimed at achieving a lasting settlement to the conflict. He also described improving connectivity between India and Russia as a major strategic priority.

India–U.S. relations have deteriorated in recent months after the two sides failed to resolve the tariff dispute triggered by India’s energy trade with Russia.

The initial 25 percent tariff imposed by Trump was later increased by another 25 percent as a penalty for India’s oil purchases; a move India described as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”

Putin also pointed out that the United States remains a buyer of Russian nuclear fuel for its own power plants.

Data cited by Bloomberg in September showed Russia as the top supplier of nuclear reactor fuel to the US last year, despite a legal ban on enriched uranium imports enacted in May.

During their talks on Friday, the two leaders signed several memorandum of understanding covering trade, agriculture and other economic sectors.

Modi announced the introduction of two new 30-day visa schemes for Russian tourists and revealed that two additional Indian consulates had been opened in Russia. He also said Russia Today, the Kremlin-funded television network, would be launched in India.

While no major defence deals were unveiled, agreements were signed in shipbuilding, civil nuclear energy, and critical minerals. Both countries also adopted a long-term economic programme running to 2030, focusing on employment, shipping and healthcare.

Putin said he was confident that bilateral trade could grow from the current $60bn to about $100bn in the coming years.

Modi described energy cooperation as a central pillar of the India–Russia partnership but stopped short of directly addressing oil imports.

India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, significantly increased purchases of Russian crude following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, some Indian companies have recently scaled back imports to comply with US sanctions.

Putin further disclosed plans for what he described as a flagship project, the construction of India’s largest nuclear power plant with Russian support.

In a joint statement, both leaders said their partnership was being reshaped toward joint research and development and the production of advanced defence platforms.

Putin also said Russia and India were coordinating closely on foreign policy through the BRICS bloc, which he described as promoting a more just and multi-polar global order.