Russia Hails India’s ‘Self-Respect’ in Oil Trade as Trump Slaps 50% Tariffs

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday endorsed India’s right to set its own oil trade policies, pushing back against steep 50% tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking about his regular exchanges with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Lavrov said oil and trade are never raised because India is “perfectly capable” of making such decisions independently.

“I’m not even asking what is going to happen to our trade relations, our oil,” Lavrov said. “They are perfectly capable of making these decisions on their own.”

Lavrov praised India’s stance and “self-respect,” citing Jaishankar’s past remarks that New Delhi is open to U.S. oil if terms are favorable but will continue to buy from Russia and other countries as it chooses. “That has nothing to do with the Indian-U.S. agenda,” Lavrov said, likening India’s approach to Turkey’s.

He also confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit India in December, stressing the “very extensive” India–Russia agenda spanning trade, defense, technology, and coordination in forums such as the SCO and BRICS.

Lavrov’s comments come as New Delhi and Washington continue trade talks following Trump’s tariff measures, which include a 25% sanction penalty linked to India’s oil imports from Russia. India has maintained that its energy choices are based on market offers and global conditions.