Russian Ambassador to India Roman Babushkin dismissed the Western sanctions on Moscow, describing them as an “unlawful tool of competition” and asserting that they have only strengthened Russia’s determination to expand its global ties. He underlined that unilateral sanctions were illegal and highlighted that, despite the pressure, Moscow’s engagements have only grown stronger, particularly with India. According to him, the more sanctions are imposed, the more opportunities Russia finds to deepen cooperation, especially in the energy sector, which he identified as crucial for India.
Babushkin reaffirmed his confidence that the India-Russia partnership would not only endure but also expand further. His remarks came shortly before the announcement of a 25 per cent penalty tariff by the US President on Indian goods over New Delhi’s oil trade with Russia, taking the overall tariff to 50 per cent. He stressed that the trajectory of relations between India and Russia remained “upward” and expressed optimism about the course of future engagements.
He pointed out that bilateral ties had been particularly dynamic in recent years, marked by frequent high-level interactions, with Indian and Russian leaders speaking twice in just two weeks. This year’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership, along with ongoing exchanges of delegations at all levels, underscored the vitality of the relationship. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s current visit to Moscow to co-chair the Intergovernmental Commission with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was highlighted as part of this momentum.
Looking ahead, Babushkin noted upcoming engagements such as the SCO summit and anticipated President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India by the end of next year as key milestones in bilateral relations. He expressed confidence that these developments would further strengthen the partnership. Addressing concerns about the impact of sanctions on Russia’s oil trade, he assured that Moscow had repeatedly demonstrated its ability to adapt to new challenges and would continue to do so.
The ambassador also criticised the US tariffs imposed on India, suggesting that Russia could serve as an alternative market for Indian exports should they face restrictions in the American market. This, he implied, would further cement the economic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow amid external pressures.
