Russia has declared that attempts to weaken its partnership with India are “destined to fail”, lauding New Delhi’s resolve to stand firm in the face of US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has praised India for refusing to bow to external pressure and for pursuing what it described as a “steadily and confidently advancing” relationship with Moscow. “We welcome that India is showing its commitment to continue and expand multi-faceted cooperation with Russia, despite pressure and threats. Frankly, anything else would be hard to imagine,” the ministry stated.
Tensions between New Delhi and Washington have escalated after Trump imposed 25 per cent reciprocal duties on Indian goods, along with an additional 25 per cent levy on imports tied to discounted Russian crude. The move effectively saddled Indian exports with a 50 per cent tariff burden, one of the steepest anywhere in the world.
Trump has repeatedly accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine” through its oil purchases. India, however, has condemned the duties as “unfair and unreasonable”, pointing to the continued flow of Russian energy into Western markets despite sanctions rhetoric.
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Moscow’s remarks came just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, where he held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Russian ministry said India’s posture reflected “the spirit and traditions of long-standing friendship” and underscored its “strategic autonomy in international affairs.”
Officials in Moscow emphasised that the bilateral partnership rests on “the highest value of sovereignty and the primacy of national interests,” describing it as “reliable, predictable and truly strategic in nature.”
The ministry also highlighted ongoing collaboration in civilian and military production, joint space missions, nuclear energy, and Indian investment in Russian oil exploration. “Any attempt to obstruct this process is destined to fail,” it asserted.
Meanwhile, Trump conceded that the tariffs had strained ties with New Delhi but insisted that negotiations continued. International media reports suggested Washington has pushed the G7 and the European Union to follow suit with 100 per cent duties on imports from India and China.
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