Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that India has never followed orders received from outside its borders. This statement of Putin has come when US President Trump is pressurizing New Delhi to cut trade relations with Moscow. This statement of Putin is being considered as a blunt answer from Russia to the American establishment including Trump.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF’26) Russia President Putin clearly said that sovereignty and the ability to take independent decisions can never be questioned.
SPIEF’26 is Russia’s leading annual economic forum. Twenty thousand representatives from 130 countries of the world are participating in it. Friday’s event at SPIEF’26 was moderated by Geeta Mohan, Foreign Affairs Editor, India Today Group.
During the event, when Putin was asked a question about Russia’s economic isolation, the President said, “Naturally, India, which has never followed any order from abroad, or the People’s Republic of China. Sovereignty and the ability to take sovereign decisions can never be questioned.”
Earlier, while addressing SPIEF’26, Putin said that India is an important partner and one of the big players in the world’s IT industry.
SPIEF’26 is being considered as Putin’s answer to Davos. An economic conference has been organized in Davos under the leadership of America and European countries.
Earlier, the Russian President had said that efforts to put pressure on India regarding relations with Russia are ‘useless’. He had said that Moscow’s trusted ally India will not bow down to the pressure of western countries.
India has long been proud of its independent foreign policy. However, last year India had to face pressure from Trump to buy Russian oil. America claims that the income from this was helping Moscow to wage war against Ukraine.
‘Efforts to isolate Russia have failed’
When Putin was asked in the program whether Russia has been isolated economically, he said that such efforts have failed and Moscow maintains strong relations with countries around the world.
Let us tell you that due to the Ukraine war, some European countries including America have imposed economic sanctions on Russia.
Responding to Western efforts to isolate Russia economically, Putin said that ‘a strong and sovereign country cannot allow itself to be isolated or closed’. We need to build relationships with our foreign partners, establish collaborations and pursue cross-border projects. We will continue to work on plans to expand our roads and railways.”
Putin clearly said that the policy of isolating Russia was started by the previous US government and was later supported by European countries. However, he said that this strategy failed.
Putin said that he could never isolate us.
Putin said that despite tensions, economic cooperation between Russia and Western countries continued in many areas. He gave the example of energy projects and export of uranium to America.
Putin said, “The American people are practical. Whenever it benefits them, cooperation continues.”
Putin also claimed that countries that had officially announced the withdrawal of Russian projects are still involved in these projects, especially in the energy sector in the Russian Far East.
The Russian President emphasized that Moscow continues to work closely with its allies, neighbors and international organizations. He said, “We have not suffered much loss. We have never distanced ourselves from anyone.”
Regarding the Russian economy, Putin said that he is confident that Russia will remain attractive for investors.
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