Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is ready to continue providing India with a steady and uninterrupted supply of oil, even as New Delhi faces intense pressure from the United States to stop purchasing oil from Moscow.
It is worth noting that U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50% on most Indian products in August, arguing that New Delhi continued buying Russian oil — revenue that Washington says helps finance the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted Putin in New Delhi during a meeting focused on energy, defense, and trade discussions, thanked the Russian president for showing unwavering commitment toward India.
Putin received an elaborate welcome on his first visit to India since the start of the Ukraine war, including an honor guard and a 21-gun salute.
After the talks, Putin stated that Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything India needs for its energy development. “We are ready to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies for India’s rapidly growing economy,” he said.
Modi noted that energy security has remained a strong and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership. He referred to nuclear energy cooperation but made no specific mention of oil.
Since the start of the Ukraine war, India has become a major buyer of Russian oil, providing Moscow with a key export market as Europe significantly reduced its purchases.
Reports indicate that in 2024, Russia supplied nearly 36% of India’s total crude imports — roughly 1.8 million barrels per day of discounted oil. However, New Delhi has recently reduced its Russian crude imports under international pressure.