Putin Courts India, Taunts U.S. in Valdai Club Keynote Address

Russian President Vladimir Putin placed India firmly at the centre of Moscow’s foreign and economic policy priorities during his keynote appearance at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

In a session that touched on U.S. pressure campaigns, trade balances, and upcoming diplomatic engagements, he repeatedly singled out New Delhi as a partner that Russia could trust and depend upon.

Responding to a question on Washington’s growing attempts to push countries such as China and India to scale back purchases of Russian raw materials and energy, Putin dismissed the idea as both counterproductive and harmful to the U.S. itself.

If tariffs were imposed on goods from countries trading with Russia, American consumers would ultimately pay higher prices due to shortages