“Sanctions against India would “boomerang” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).”
ST. PETERSBURG — Russian President Vladimir Putin used one of Russia’s biggest economic forums to deliver a message aimed well beyond the conference hall: pressure on India over its ties with Moscow will not work.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin strongly backed India’s strategic autonomy and said any attempt to threaten New Delhi with sanctions would “boomerang” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The remarks came as Russia intensified efforts to deepen defence cooperation with India and revive interest in the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
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“India always acts as a sovereign country, and under the leadership of PM Modi, any potential threats of sanctions would boomerang immediately“, Putin said during discussions that touched on defence procurement and bilateral relations.The Russian leader repeatedly framed India as an independent power capable of making its own security decisions despite pressure from abroad. “India is a sovereign country, and it is free to choose those products that they consider to be most up-to-date and most applicable for them“, he said.
The comments appeared directed at long-running Western concerns over India’s continued defence and energy relationship with Russia. Since the Ukraine war began, India has become one of the largest buyers of discounted Russian crude oil while continuing military cooperation with Moscow.
Putin’s remarks also coincided with a renewed Russian push to sell advanced military equipment to India. He highlighted the Su-57 stealth fighter and referred to potential cooperation involving Russia’s air defence systems. Russia previously proposed a joint fighter programme with India based on the Su-57 platform, but New Delhi withdrew from the project in 2018.
On Friday, Putin indicated Moscow remained open to future cooperation. “We can’t be dictated, ‘Do not deliver that to India.’ Nobody can dictate us”, he said. He added that Russia would continue honouring agreements with New Delhi regardless of political pressure.
The defence dimension is significant. India already operates Russian-origin military equipment across its armed forces and is receiving deliveries under a $5.4 billion S-400 air defence deal signed in 2018. Discussions around future systems, including the Su-57 and the S-500, have periodically surfaced in bilateral talks.
Russia’s outreach comes as India weighs multiple options for strengthening its fighter fleet. Alongside Russian offers, New Delhi is expanding its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme while also maintaining defence partnerships with France, the United States and Israel.
Putin also sought to reassure India that closer ties with Washington would not undermine relations with Moscow. Russian officials have increasingly portrayed the partnership as resilient despite shifting global alliances and sanctions regimes.
No official response from the Indian government was immediately available following Putin’s remarks. The United States has also not publicly commented on the latest statements.
For Moscow, the message was clear. Russia wants India to remain a major defence partner, a major energy customer and a strategic relationship that continues to function outside the pressures of the wider geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the West.
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