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Russia has announced it is ready to ramp up shipments of fuel to India despite mounting pressure from the United States not to purchase Russian oil.
Some shit you should know before you read: Earlier this year, President Trump slapped secondary tariffs on India over its continued purchase of Russian oil at significantly discounted prices. Trump said the move was done in an effort to force India to stop purchasing Russian oil, which he argued would eventually choke off the economic lifelines that have allowed Russia’s economy to stay afloat despite years of Western sanctions. Russian oil, sold at steep discounts due to global sanctions, has become a key source of revenue for the Kremlin, with countries like India, China, Turkey, and Brazil emerging as major buyers. Many believe that without these purchases, Russia would be far more economically vulnerable. In the months following the tariffs, India began reducing its imports of Russian oil after initially refusing to bow to pressure.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, President Putin arrived in New Delhi to a warm reception from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his first visit to India since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. During the summit, Putin made clear that he wanted to ramp up sales of Russian oil to India. He said, “Russia is a reliable supplier of energy resources and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector. We are ready to continue ensuring the uninterrupted supply of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”
Putin also addressed US criticism of India’s Russian oil imports, questioning the double standards of the US. In an interview ahead of the summit, he pointedly remarked, “The United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants. If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India have the same privilege?” Modi, while careful not to directly reference oil, said that “energy security has been a strong and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership.”
Beyond energy, the leaders discussed widening bilateral cooperation, finalizing a roadmap for economic ties through 2030. Agreements were signed in sectors ranging from shipbuilding and civil nuclear energy to skilled labor migration and critical minerals. Both sides also reiterated their shared vision for a multipolar world through the BRICS coalition.
All of this unfolded as the United States intensifies efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Despite the US signaling that a peace deal between both countries is possible, Putin made clear in a recent interview that Russia would not accept any peace arrangement that didn’t result in Ukraine ceding the Donbas region. Putin said, “Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories.”
