New Delhi, Aug 20, 2025: Russia on Wednesday reaffirmed the strength of its ties with India, declaring that “India matters very much” for Moscow even as US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods and threatened action over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Speaking at a press conference, Roman Babushkin, Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in India, dismissed Washington’s tariff moves as “unjustified and unilateral.” He said India would not be pressured into halting Russian crude imports, pointing out that the two countries have developed “special mechanisms” to ensure uninterrupted supplies.
‘US Weaponised Economy’
Babushkin accused the United States of weaponising the global economy, saying:
“Friends do not impose sanctions. Russia will never impose sanctions. If the West criticises you, it means you are doing everything right.”
He added that Washington’s aggressive trade policies were eroding global confidence in the US dollar, while Russia was ready to welcome Indian exports if New Delhi faced hurdles entering the American market.
Support for India-China Engagement
Babushkin also welcomed the “very successful” visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India earlier this month and expressed hope for a trilateral meeting involving India, Russia, and China in the near future.
Modi-Putin Talks on Ukraine
Highlighting recent high-level contacts, Babushkin noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke twice with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August. The leaders discussed the Ukraine conflict and reviewed bilateral cooperation. Modi reiterated India’s stance for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, while thanking Putin for sharing insights from his meeting with President Trump in Alaska.
Putin’s India Visit Confirmed
The Russian Embassy official confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will visit India later this year to meet Prime Minister Modi, underscoring the continued upswing in Indo-Russian relations despite Western pressure.
