Russia’s energy partnership with India remains steady and untouched by the latest Western sanctions, .
His comments come at a time when the United States and European partners have tightened enforcement of their price cap on Russian oil and issued fresh cautions to countries, including India, about .
Putin, however, played down the impact of these moves and said attempts to influence India’s oil purchases were political in nature rather than grounded in market realities. “The pressure you have referred to typically involves employing political instruments to influence normal competition,” he said.
Putting the focus firmly on India, he added that the foundation of the bilateral energy relationship was strong enough to withstand shifting geopolitical winds. “Our energy cooperation with India remains unaffected by current conditions, fleeting political swings or indeed the tragic events in Ukraine,” he said.
Putin then highlighted the depth of the hydrocarbons partnership and its long-standing commercial roots. “Regarding hydrocarbons, well before the Ukrainian situation, our business entities had already built a solid and efficient commercial relationship that is based on mutual trust. It is widely known that one of our leading companies acquired an oil refinery in India,” he said, referring to Rosneft’s stake in Nayara Energy.
He said that this investment was not minor or symbolic. “This investment represented one of the largest foreign inflows into the Indian economy, totalling 20 billion US dollars. Our company has been continuously expanding the operations of this refinery, working with its partners and operating successfully year after year,” Putin said.
According to him, the India–Russia value chain in energy has matured to the point where its impact goes beyond bilateral trade. “As a result, India has become one of the major refined product suppliers to Europe. Not just because it buys our oil at a discount. It took years to achieve and is in no way connected to the economic environment,” he said.
Putin also suggested that India’s growing influence in global energy markets is not viewed positively by all. “, owing to its ties with Russia. Consequently, they are seeking means to constrain India’s influence for political reasons by imposing artificial obstacles,” he said.
These comments gain significance because recent US and EU actions have complicated global shipping routes for Russian crude and raised concerns about whether India’s imports will face disruption. Putin made clear that Moscow sees no threat to this partnership and will continue supplying India as usual.
He also reiterated that the energy bond between the two countries did not emerge because of sanctions or temporary price advantages. It is, he insisted, the continuation of a commercial relationship that predates the Ukraine conflict and is supported by strategic trust.
Putin noted that his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has helped maintain stability in the relationship despite external pressure. He said this trust ensures that cooperation in critical sectors like energy continues without disruption.
In India’s context, Russian oil remains crucial for controlling domestic fuel prices and meeting rising demand.
Putin’s message signals that, regardless of evolving Western sanctions, Russia expects no interruption in its energy ties with India and views the relationship as long-term, predictable, and built on shared economic interests.