Russia ready to provide ‘uninterrupted’ fuel supplies

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow is ready to provide “continuous shipments” of fuel to India, at a time when New Delhi faces pressure from the United States to stop buying Russian oil.

Putin, who was speaking alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, earlier asked why India was being penalized for buying oil while the United States itself buys nuclear fuel from Moscow.

President Donald Trump imposed it 50% customs duty on most Indian productsUnder the pretext that New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil helped finance the war in Ukraine, an accusation India denies.

Putin’s visit comes as the United States holds a series of talks with Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to broker a peace agreement to end the war.

Putin told India Today newspaper on Thursday that Russia was working to find a “peaceful solution” to end the war, warning that Ukraine should withdraw from Donbas. Or Russia will seize it.

He added: “Either we liberate these lands by force, or Ukrainian forces will leave these lands.”

Modi reiterated India’s position that it is not neutral on the war in Ukraine and stands “on the side of peace,” welcoming efforts to find a “permanent” solution to end the war.

He stressed that increasing “engagement” between Russia and India is a “major priority” for India.

In recent months, India-US relations have witnessed tension Lowest level ever As the two countries failed to resolve the customs impasse.

Trump initially imposed a 25% tariff on India, but later announced an additional 25% tariff as punishment for Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil – a move the Indian government called “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable” at the time.

In his interview with India Today, Putin commented on the US tariffs imposed on India in exchange for purchasing Russian oil and said that India should have the same opportunities as the United States.

“The United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its nuclear power plants. If the United States has the right to buy our fuel, why doesn’t India have the same privilege?” he asked.

Russia remained the United States’ largest supplier of nuclear reactor fuel last year. Bloomberg reported in September – Quoting data from the Ministry of Energy. The ban on imports of enriched uranium from the country was enshrined into law in May.

The two leaders exchanged notes during a press conference on Friday, setting common goals in areas including trade and agriculture.

Modi announced two new 30-day visa schemes for Russian tourists visiting India, and said two new Indian consulates have been opened in Russia.

The Prime Minister said that Russia Today, a Kremlin-funded and state-controlled television network, will also be launched in India.

No major defense deals have been announced, but the two men said there were signed agreements on shipbuilding and investments in civilian nuclear energy and critical minerals.

India and Russia also agreed on an economic program valid until 2030, including jobs, shipping and the health industry, the leaders said.

Putin said he was confident of increasing current bilateral trade from $60 billion to $100 billion in the coming years.

Modi said that “energy security was a strong and important pillar of the Indo-Russian partnership,” but did not specifically refer to oil.

India – the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil – has been buying large quantities from Russia since the Kremlin’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

But some Indian companies have already begun reducing their oil imports from Russia in compliance with US sanctions.

Putin also pointed to a “major project”: the construction of India’s largest nuclear power plant, which he said Moscow would help with.

In a joint statement issued after their meeting, the leaders said their partnership “is being redirected towards joint research and development, as well as the production of advanced defense platforms.”

Putin added that he and Modi cooperate on foreign policy, as their alliance of BRICS countries promotes a “fairer” and “multipolar” world.

BRICS is an informal alliance of several major developing countries – including India, Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa – which was formed in 2006, broadly to challenge the political and economic power of North American and Western European countries.