Putin says pressure on India over Russia ties is counterproductive

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said attempts by the US and others to pressure India over its cooperation with Russia are counterproductive. He made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of international news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

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Putin described India as a reliable partner and said bilateral ties would continue to deepen despite external scrutiny. He said several countries had tried to influence India's position on engagement with Russia, particularly in areas of cooperation. Putin also said India was one of the fastest-growing major economies and credited its progress to years of government effort under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He added that India's success was the result of sustained work by its government and said he saw no negative consequences from outside pressure. The Russian president said trade between the two countries would continue to expand and predicted bilateral commerce could reach $100 billion in the coming years. He also said Russia respected India's independent foreign policy and did not view India's expanding relationship with the United States as a threat.

Putin said Russia would continue to expand its relations with India and described it as a great nation and democracy. The comments come against a backdrop of growing concern in the US and several European capitals over India's continued purchases of Russian crude oil. India has maintained cooperation with Moscow despite Western pressure, making the relationship a point of wider geopolitical significance.

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Putin's remarks were framed as a defence of that partnership and a rejection of efforts to isolate Russia through pressure on its partners. The St. Petersburg forum has often been used by Russian officials to signal economic and diplomatic priorities, and this year's exchange again placed Russia's ties with India in the spotlight.

The remarks also underline the importance Moscow places on trade with New Delhi at a time when Russia faces sustained scrutiny over its international relationships. By linking the issue to India's economic growth and foreign policy independence, Putin sought to present the relationship as both practical and resilient. What remains unclear is whether the comments will affect any policy positions in Washington, New Delhi or European capitals.

It is also not clear how quickly bilateral trade could move towards the $100 billion level Putin described. The broader significance will depend on whether India continues to balance its ties with Russia and the West while maintaining its current energy and trade approach.

#Russia #India #Putin #Modi #trade

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