Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said he was ready to continue ‘ u n i n t e r r u p t e d shipments’ of fuel to India, as New Delhi faces heavy US pressure to stop buying oil from Moscow.
uS President Donald Trump imposed punishing 50 percent tariffs on most Indian products in August, citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil — revenue Washington argues helps fund the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is hosting Putin at a summit in New Delhi dominated by energy, defense, and trade talks, thanked the Russian leader for his ‘unwavering commitment towards India’. Putin, on his first visit to close partner India since the Ukraine war, was given a red-carpet welcome with an honor guard and 21-gun salute. ‘Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything that is required for the development of India’s energy,’ Putin told Modi after talks. ‘We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel for the fast-growing Indian economy,’ he added, according to an official translator.