Russian President Vladimir Putin has affirmed Russia's readiness to provide uninterrupted fuel shipments to India. This statement was made as India faces international encouragement to limit its Russian oil purchases.
International Energy Dynamics
During discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, President Putin questioned the rationale behind penalizing India for buying Russian oil, while noting that the United States continues to procure nuclear fuel from Russia. A September Bloomberg report, citing Department of Energy data, indicated that Russia was the top supplier of nuclear reactor fuel to the US in the previous year. A US law banning enriched uranium imports from Russia was enacted in May.
The United States has implemented tariffs on certain Indian products, asserting that India's ongoing acquisition of Russian oil contributes to financing the conflict in Ukraine. India has rejected this accusation.
Stances on the Ukraine Conflict
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's position regarding the Ukraine conflict, stating the nation stands "on the side of peace" and supports efforts to achieve a "lasting" resolution. He also underscored the significance of enhancing "connectivity" between Russia and India.
In an interview with India Today, President Putin stated that Russia is pursuing a "peaceful solution" to the conflict. He specified that Ukraine must withdraw from the Donbas region, or Russia would proceed to seize control of those territories.
US-India Relations
US-India relations have experienced periods of tension recently, particularly stemming from unresolved tariff disputes. The US initially imposed a 25% tariff on Indian products, subsequently adding another 25% penalty which it linked to India's purchases of Russian oil. The Indian government had previously described these tariffs as "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable."