US Buys Nuclear Fuel: Putin On Trump’s Tariffs On India Over Oil Purchase As Delhi-Moscow Eye $100 Bn Trade

Since assuming office as the 47th President of the United States earlier this year, Donald Trump has often targeted India for buying oil from Russia and indirectly fueling the Ukraine war. While New Delhi has iterated several times that the decision was taken in larger global interests, Moscow has now come down heavily on the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, currently in New Delhi for a 2-day state visit, stated that some global powers are uncomfortable with India’s rise in global standing. In a pointed message to Washington, Putin said that if the United States can continue importing Russian fuel, why should India be scolded for doing the same?

In an interview with India Today, aired shortly after he landed in New Delhi and received an exceptionally warm welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening (December 4, 2025), Putin said the West’s criticism of India’s Russian oil purchases lacked consistency.

India’s oil purchase from Russia: Putin’s tough message for Trump

“The United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own power plants. If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India?” he told India Today, adding that the issue “deserves thorough examination,” including in discussions with President Trump. Notably, India emerged as the top buyer of seaborne Russian oil despite Western sanctions imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Putin’s remarks come at a time when Washington has intensified pressure on New Delhi, even as the US continues major imports of Russian LNG, uranium, and strategic commodities. India, facing steep 50% Trump-era tariffs on its exports, has repeatedly stated that such criticism is “unreasonable” given the West’s own trade with Moscow.

How do Putin’s comments fit into larger trade and tariff tensions?

Responding to questions about India’s reduced crude imports, Putin dismissed concerns, calling it a “minor adjustment” in an otherwise steady growth trajectory. “Trade in petroleum products and crude oil… Russian oil… is running smoothly in India,” he said.

On Trump’s tariff policies, Putin noted that the US President is surrounded by advisers who believe aggressive tariffs will strengthen the American economy. “We hope all violations of WTO regulations will eventually be rectified,” he stated.

He even called the recent pressure political rather than based on supply and demand. Putin further noted that India and Russia’s energy partnership has a long foundation and is not shaped by short-term events. “Our energy cooperation with India remains unaffected by current conditions, fleeting political swings, or indeed the tragic events in Ukraine.”

Putin in India: PM Modi’s warm personal welcome at airport

In a rare diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received President Putin at Delhi airport, embracing him on the red carpet before the two leaders drove together for a private dinner. The warm optics highlighted New Delhi’s insistence that the India–Russia partnership remains “time-tested”.

“Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India,” Modi posted on X.

Senior Russian ministers and a large business delegation accompanied Putin, signalling the depth of the forthcoming summit discussions.

India-Russia trade: A $100 Billion target by 2030?

Meanwhile, before Putin landed in New Delhi, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov exuded confidence that Russia and India can reach their shared goal of achieving $100 billion in trade turnover by 2030. He believes the target is not just achievable but already within reach.

Speaking to Izvestia, he noted that the rapid rise in bilateral commerce, from $13 billion in 2021 to nearly $69 billion in 2024–25, far exceeded earlier projections. Recalling Putin’s 2018 target of $30 billion, Siluanov said, “Our trade turnover is $68 billion, more than double the target. What helped? Cooperation in machinery, investment ties, increasing travel, and of course, strong energy trade.”

Siluanov also highlighted the opening of VTB Bank’s flagship office in India, calling it a strategic step to simplify settlements, boost investments, and support rising trade volumes. Streamlined financial channels, he said, will “increase turnovers, investments, and tourist trips” between both nations.

Is Russia increasing purchase of Indian goods?

Despite the impressive rise, bilateral trade remains heavily tilted toward Russian energy exports. Russia’s leadership has now made it a priority to expand imports of Indian goods, a directive Siluanov said is being “actively implemented.”

Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov recently said that Russia wants to increase supplies of Indian goods in their market. “In terms of our trade relations, Russia is interested in increasing our trade exchange. We are interested in increasing supplies of indian products in Russian market, interested in balancing trade.

Because now a day’s Russian goods are much more in Indian market than Indian goods in Russian market. “We are very interested in buying Indian products,” he stated.

Modi-Putin annual summit: What lies ahead for India and Russia?

Putin is set to participate in the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, where both sides are expected to announce a new slate of agreements spanning energy, manufacturing, financial cooperation, and possibly defence-industrial projects. With trade goals set at $100 billion and geopolitical realignments underway, Putin’s India visit is poised to reinforce a longstanding partnership.