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Putin questions US unit connected India’s Russian lipid purchases arsenic Modi gives the Russian president a lukewarm welcome.
Published On 4 Dec 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has questioned Washington’s stance connected India’s lipid purchases from Moscow, pointing to US imports of Russian atomic substance arsenic helium began a state visit aimed astatine strengthening ties betwixt the 2 nations.
Putin arrived successful New Delhi connected Thursday evening to a lukewarm airdrome reception from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who embraced the Russian person successful a uncommon motion that underscored their idiosyncratic rapport.
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The sojourn comes arsenic India faces mounting unit from US President Donald Trump, who has imposed punitive tariffs connected Indian goods implicit New Delhi’s purchases of discounted Russian crude.
In an interrogation with Indian broadcasters earlier his arrival, Putin questioned the logic down Washington’s criticism.
“The United States itself inactive buys atomic substance from america for its ain atomic powerfulness plants,” helium said, adding that if the US has the close to bargain Russian fuel, India should bask “the aforesaid privilege”.
Modi posted connected societal media that helium was “delighted to invited my friend, President Putin to India,” calling their narration “a clip tested 1 that has greatly benefitted our people”.
After embracing connected the tarmac, the 2 drove unneurotic to a backstage meal astatine Modi’s residence.
Delighted to invited my friend, President Putin to India. Looking guardant to our interactions aboriginal this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia relationship is simply a clip tested 1 that has greatly benefitted our people.@KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/L7IORzRfV9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025
Al Jazeera’s Neha Poonia, reporting from New Delhi, said the reception sent a wide message.
“Experts accidental that the lukewarm reception for President Putin [shows] that helium is not a pariah, that determination are countries that volition judge him contempt unit from occidental nations,” implicit Russia’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine, she said, adding that Modi wanted to awesome “he won’t springiness into unit from Donald Trump.”
Putin defended the vigor relationship, telling Indian media that practice with India “remains unaffected by governmental swings oregon the tragic events successful Ukraine”.
He accused unnamed actors of seeking to “constrain India for governmental reasons” owed to its increasing planetary role.
The sojourn highlights India’s delicate balancing enactment betwixt Moscow and Washington. India’s lipid imports from Russia surged from conscionable 2.5 percent of full crude purchases earlier 2022 to astir 36 percent currently, making it the world’s second-largest purchaser of Russian oil.
🇷🇺🇮🇳 President Vladimir #Putin has arrived successful India for a two-day authorities visit.
The Russian person received a lukewarm idiosyncratic invited from Prime Minister @narendramodi.#DruzhbaDosti pic.twitter.com/jUeufbIdCv
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) December 4, 2025
Indian refiners person saved astir $12.20 per tube by purchasing discounted Russian crude.
However, Trump has imposed 50 percent tariffs connected Indian goods successful retaliation, and caller US sanctions connected large Russian lipid producers person begun forcing Indian refiners to trim purchases.
Reliance, India’s largest backstage refiner, has already announced it volition halt exporting petroleum products made from Russian crude.
On Friday, Putin and Modi are expected to clasp ceremonial acme talks and denote agreements spanning defence cooperation, shipping, healthcare and labour mobility.
Russia is pushing to merchantability India further S-400 rocket defence systems and Su-57 stealth combatant jets, portion some sides purpose to scope $100bn successful bilateral commercialized by 2030, though the people present appears distant arsenic lipid imports decline.
English (US) ·