"India loses...": Putin's trade balance plan, high marks for "very wise" Modi in the face of Trump tariffs

Amid continuing trade tensions between India and the US, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and once again reaffirmed ties with India. India recently received 50% tariffs from President Donald Trump, half of which were imposed for trading oil with Russia. The action was taken in an attempt to put pressure on Russia and India to end the Kremlin's ongoing military war against Ukraine. Putin stated his belief that Prime Minister Modi will not give in to the pressure from tariffs during the ongoing trade talks between the US and India.

Putin said that whether or not India abandons Russian energy, it will be in a losing position. According to him, cutting off oil commerce with Russia may cost India between $9 and $10 billion, and if it doesn't, sanctions could be imposed, which could result in much greater losses.

"So why decline if there are political repercussions at home as well? No Indian will ever permit themselves to be degraded by anyone. At the international Valdai discussion forum in South Russia, Putin stated, "I know Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi, and he will not make any such decisions either." "The losses faced by India due to punitive US tariffs would be balanced by crude imports from Russia, plus it will gain prestige as a sovereign nation," he stated.