Kolkata: Russia on Wednesday dismissed the US tariffs on India over its procurement of Russian crude oil as “unjustified and unilateral”. Moscow has also stressed that it would continue energy cooperation with New Delhi “notwithstanding external pressure”.
While speaking to reporters in New Delhi, deputy chief of mission Roman Babushkin said the US has “weaponised the economy.” He also added that “friends do not impose sanctions, and Russia will never impose sanctions on India.” Babushkin has also welcomed the “very successful” visit of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to India. He described the Russia-India-China mechanism as an important platform. “We hope it will be resumed sooner rather than later,” he said, after starting the address by invoking Lord Ganesha in Hindi. He stated, “Shri Ganesh Karte Hai.’
#WATCH | “Sooner than later,” says Roman Babushkin, Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in India, on a possibility of a meeting between Putin, Modi, and Xi in the future. pic.twitter.com/olPIE1cOb1
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2025
“You will never see sanctions imposed by Russia or within BRICS organisations where we together participate. Non-United Nations sanctions and secondary sanctions are illegal. They just weaponise the economy. Despite the tremendous sanction pressure on Russia, you will see the Russian economy is growing steadily. It means that you cannot exclude from the global economy such a big and important country like Russia with its tremendous energy, industrial and human potential, meaning that sanctions fail and moreover, they hit those who are imposing them,” he said.
Earlier, President Donald Trump said the US is set to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports on August 27, citing their imports of Russian oil.
#WATCH | Delhi | On US sanctioning 50% tariff on India, Roman Babushkin, Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in India, says, “..If Indian goods are facing difficulties entering the US market, the Russian market is welcoming Indian exports…” pic.twitter.com/DjeUdmSYbJ
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2025
However, the US has stopped short of imposing similar tariffs on China over its trade deal with Russia. Trump has highlighted that Russia has created a “special mechanism” to ensure uninterrupted crude supplies to India. Currently, India sources around 40 per cent of its oil needs from Moscow at an average discount of 5%.
According to reports quoting the Russian official, India and Russia are on track to achieve the target of $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
#WATCH | Delhi | On US trade adviser stating India should stop buying Russian oil, Roman Babushkin, Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in India , says, “If the West criticises you, it means you are doing everything right…We don’t expect that to happen (India to stop… https://t.co/85NGvwRH2v pic.twitter.com/bKYFQ1aK3I
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2025
The official also claimed that Moscow was working to reduce the trade imbalance by boosting Indian exports of machinery, pharmaceuticals, tea and rice.
On Western sanctions, Babushkin said the European Union’s latest package will have little impact on Russia. He also reiterated that India is unlikely to stop Russian oil purchases.
“We are committed to sit with India to address challenges and remove them,” he said.
The official revealed that New Delhi and Moscow were in advanced talks on small and modular nuclear reactors.
“Russia is the partner of choice for India in India, have jointly developed BrahMos cruise missile, are working on other sophisticated equipment, including jet engines,” Babushkin said, claiming that President Vladimir Putin had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice on the situation in Ukraine.
Babushkin has also welcomed the “very successful” visit of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to India. He described the Russia-India-China mechanism as an important platform.
The Russian official confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. However, no dates have been set for Putin’s visit to India.
