Expressing confidence that India will continue to import oil from Russia without giving in to US coercion, President Vladimir Putin has said his country will import more from India to address the trade imbalance. Russia may buy more farm products and medicines from India, he said, adding he had instructed his govt to think of proposals to be made
The two countries on Friday marked 25th anniversary of their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, with Indian govt saying that it is looking forward to strengthening ties in every segment they are working on, including trade, investment, defence, and science and technology.
When asked about the US tariffs on Russia’s key partners, Putin said Indian people will not tolerate their country being bullied into making a decision that contradicts their national interests and priorities, RT news channel reported.
“India will never allow itself to be humiliated by anyone. I know PM Modi, he will also not make any such decisions,” said Putin, speaking at Valdai plenary session. “The losses faced by India due to punitive US tariffs would be balanced by crude imports from Russia,” Putin added. He said that Russia may buy more agricultural products and medicines from India to remove the trade imbalance.
Russian news agency TASS quoted him as saying he had instructed his govt to think of proposals to be made to “Indian friends and counterparts on the most promising areas of cooperation and how Russia can smoothen the imbalance in trade and other areas”.
Putin said he was looking forward to his trip to India in early Dec (for India-Russia annual summit) and meeting with “my friend and our reliable partner PM Modi.” Putin described Modi as a “balanced, wise”, and “nationally oriented leader”, saying he feels comfortable in their “trustworthy” interactions.
