 "Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. Reuters")
The Russian Foreign Ministry praised India for maintaining cooperation with Moscow despite pressure from US President Donald Trump to cut ties through tariffs on Indian imports. The ministry said any attempt to harm ties with New Delhi would fail.
Speaking to RT, Russian officials welcomed India’s commitment to continue and expand its multi-faceted cooperation with Russia despite external pressure, noting that “frankly, anything else would be hard to imagine."
The ministry added that relations between India and Russia are “steadily and confidently advancing" and any attempt to obstruct this process is “destined to fail."
The remarks came after India-US relations became tense following Trump’s imposition of 25 per cent duties on Indian goods, along with an additional 25 per cent levy on India’s discounted Russian crude imports — raising the total tariff to 50 per cent, among the highest globally.
Trump has repeatedly accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine" by buying Russian oil, even though his administration has avoided tougher direct sanctions on Moscow. India condemned the tariffs as “unfair and unreasonable,” highlighting that the US and Europe continue to purchase Russian oil.
Despite Trump’s pressure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthened ties with China and Russia at the SCO Summit in Tianjin, holding talks with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. The Russian ministry said India’s approach reflects “the spirit and traditions of long-standing friendship" and New Delhi’s “strategic autonomy in international affairs."
The ministry added that the India-Russia partnership values “the highest value of sovereignty and the primacy of national interests," describing the relationship as “reliable, predictable and truly strategic in nature."