‘Ties with Russia time-tested’, says MEA after Trump’s ‘penalties’ on India

India and Russia share a “steady, time-tested partnership”, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.

This comes two days after United States President Donald Trump threatened to impose a “penalty” on New Delhi for buying a large portion of its military equipment and fuel from Russia amid the war on Ukraine.

“Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country,” foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press conference.

Jaiswal on Friday also said that India and the United States share a partnership based on shared interests and people-to-people ties.

“This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges,” the spokesperson said. “We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to and are confident that the relationship will continue to move forward.”

#WATCH | Delhi | MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Our ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. As far as India-Russia relations are concerned, we have a steady and time-tested partnership." pic.twitter.com/FBN67Lnk46— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2025

Trump on Thursday signed an executive order reimposing so-called reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries that have not negotiated separate trade agreements with it, including India.

A day earlier, Trump...

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