India has never followed diktat from abroad: Putin's message to Trump at SPIEF
Putin, speaking at the SPIEF 2026, underlined that sovereignty and sovereign decision-making can never be contested, as he sent a stern message to Trump on attempts to pressure India to scale back its cooperation with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that India has never followed any diktat from abroad, sending a stern message to Donald Trump amid US attempts to pressure Delhi to scale back its cooperation with Moscow. Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which was moderated by India Today, Putin underlined that sovereignty and sovereign decision-making can never be contested.
"Naturally, India, which has never followed any diktat from abroad, or the People's Republic of China. Sovereignty and sovereign decision-making can never be contested," Putin said.
The remarks at the global forum, dubbed Putin's answer to Davos, come a day after the Russian President said attempts to pressure India over its ties with Russia were "useless". He said India, a reliable partner of Moscow, would not bow to pressure from Western countries.
India has long prided itself on its independent foreign policy. Last year, it came under pressure from Trump over its purchase of Russian oil - a revenue source that Washington claimed was funding Moscow's war machine against Ukraine. The US punitively doubled its tariffs on India to 50%, before lowering them to 18% this year.
'PLANS TO ISOLATE RUSSIA FAILED'
When asked if Russia had been economically isolated, Putin said such efforts have failed and that Moscow continues to maintain strong ties with countries across the world.
Putin bluntly put out that the policy of isolating Russia was initiated by the previous US administration and later supported by European countries. However, he argued that the strategy came a cropper.
"There has never been any isolation," the Russian leader said.
Highlighting the irony of it, Putin said even during tensions, economic cooperation between Russia and the West continued in several areas. He cited energy projects and uranium exports to the US.
"Americans are pragmatic. Whenever it benefits them, cooperation continues," Putin said.
Putin also claimed that some countries that had officially announced their withdrawal from Russian projects continue to remain involved, particularly in energy ventures in Russia's Far East.
The Russian President underlined that Moscow continues to work closely with its partners, neighbours and international organisations. "There is not much damage to us... We have never isolated ourselves from anyone," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that India has never followed any diktat from abroad, sending a stern message to Donald Trump amid US attempts to pressure Delhi to scale back its cooperation with Moscow. Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which was moderated by India Today, Putin underlined that sovereignty and sovereign decision-making can never be contested.
"Naturally, India, which has never followed any diktat from abroad, or the People's Republic of China. Sovereignty and sovereign decision-making can never be contested," Putin said.
The remarks at the global forum, dubbed Putin's answer to Davos, come a day after the Russian President said attempts to pressure India over its ties with Russia were "useless". He said India, a reliable partner of Moscow, would not bow to pressure from Western countries.
India has long prided itself on its independent foreign policy. Last year, it came under pressure from Trump over its purchase of Russian oil - a revenue source that Washington claimed was funding Moscow's war machine against Ukraine. The US punitively doubled its tariffs on India to 50%, before lowering them to 18% this year.
'PLANS TO ISOLATE RUSSIA FAILED'
When asked if Russia had been economically isolated, Putin said such efforts have failed and that Moscow continues to maintain strong ties with countries across the world.
Putin bluntly put out that the policy of isolating Russia was initiated by the previous US administration and later supported by European countries. However, he argued that the strategy came a cropper.
"There has never been any isolation," the Russian leader said.
Highlighting the irony of it, Putin said even during tensions, economic cooperation between Russia and the West continued in several areas. He cited energy projects and uranium exports to the US.
"Americans are pragmatic. Whenever it benefits them, cooperation continues," Putin said.
Putin also claimed that some countries that had officially announced their withdrawal from Russian projects continue to remain involved, particularly in energy ventures in Russia's Far East.
The Russian President underlined that Moscow continues to work closely with its partners, neighbours and international organisations. "There is not much damage to us... We have never isolated ourselves from anyone," he said.
