Key points
- US has imposed high tariffs on India’s Russian oil imports
- India defends oil purchases as purely commercial transactions
- Russia and India plan joint energy projects in Russia
ISLAMABAD: India and Russia agreed on Thursday to strengthen trade ties during a meeting between their foreign ministers in Moscow, showing little sign that US President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods—linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil—would affect their relationship.
Indian exports are now subject to additional US tariffs of up to 50 per cent, some of the highest imposed by Washington, in response to New Delhi’s increased imports of Russian crude, according to CGTN.
‘I’m very glad to see you’
Lavrov welcomes Indian FM Jaishankar to Moscow
‘This is a multipolar system of relations with an increasing role played by the SCO, BRICS, and G20’ pic.twitter.com/xn8WYwBcCr
— RT (@RT_com) August 21, 2025
While Western nations argue that India’s continued oil purchases help finance Russia’s war in Ukraine, India maintains that these are purely commercial transactions. New Delhi has also criticised the US and EU for double standards, pointing out that they too continue to trade significantly with Moscow.
Achieving solid results
“We’ve achieved solid results in the energy sector, particularly with Russian oil supplies to India. Both countries are keen to pursue joint energy projects, including resource extraction in Russia’s Far East and Arctic shelf,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a joint press conference with India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Jaishankar emphasised the enduring nature of India-Russia relations, calling them among the most stable major power partnerships since the Second World War, rooted in historical ties dating back to the Soviet era.
Expanding bilateral trade
According to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral trade, including efforts to boost Indian exports to Russia.
“Trade expansion requires swiftly addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments,” Jaishankar said. “Enhancing Indian exports to Russia in sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and textiles will certainly help to correct the current imbalance.”
Meanwhile, Russian embassy officials in New Delhi said on Wednesday that Moscow expects to continue oil exports to India despite US pressure.
