- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 28 Sep 2025 08:48 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Russia has reaffirmed that its partnership with India remains strong despite US threats of secondary sanctions and tariffs. Speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised India’s independent foreign policy and confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will soon visit New Delhi for high-level talks.
Lavrov, addressing questions on US tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, stressed that the economic partnership between the two countries was “not under threat.” He described India as “perfectly capable” of making its own choices, noting, “It is a very worthy response that shows that India, like Turkey, has self-respect.”
The Russian minister emphasised that Moscow respects India’s national interests and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to foreign policy. “We have full respect for the national interests of India, full respect for the foreign policy that Narendra Modi is carrying out to promote these national interests. We hold regular contacts at the highest level,” he said.
Defying US Pressure
Lavrov’s comments came in the wake of repeated warnings from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened “a very strong round of powerful tariffs” on countries that continue to import Russian oil. In his UNGA address, Trump criticised Europe, China, and India for funding Moscow through energy purchases, saying, “China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war.”
“The Indian Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have made it clear that India chooses its own partners,” Lavrov said, insisting that trade and energy ties between Russia and India remain robust.
Lavrov criticised Western powers for blocking constructive solutions at the UN Security Council. He accused the West of using blackmail and pressure tactics, particularly in negotiations related to Iran and Ukraine.
“The rejection of a Russian bid to extend the deadline finally exposed the West’s policy of sabotaging the pursuit of constructive solutions,” Lavrov said, underscoring Moscow’s frustrations with what it sees as unilateral Western demands.
Lavrov added that Russia remains open to talks on resolving the Ukraine conflict but stressed that its security interests and the rights of Russian-speaking people must be safeguarded.
Putin’s Upcoming India Visit
Amid these tensions, Lavrov confirmed that President Putin will soon visit Delhi, a move expected to further cement the longstanding India-Russia partnership. The visit is seen as a signal that despite geopolitical turbulence, the ties between Moscow and New Delhi remain unshaken.