Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday hit out at what he described as unfair Western restrictions on Russia, saying more than 30,000 sanctions had been imposed on Moscow — twice as many as sanctions against all other countries combined.
Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, Putin accused Western competitors of using increasingly “ugly” methods to protect their economic position, including disrupting transport links, destroying infrastructure and imposing sanctions.
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“More than 30,000 sanctions have been slapped on Russia, which is twice as much as the number of all sanctions against all the other countries of the world combined,” Putin said. He added that Russia’s economic growth over the past three years had exceeded the global average.
He claimed that the country’s economy had undergone significant structural changes over the past four years and had become more resilient and flexible despite the sanctions regime.
Earlier, the US Senate passed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86-11 vote on August 7. The legislation imposes primary and secondary sanctions targeting Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions and the so-called shadow fleet, while also extending sanctions on Iran.
Putin said competition between BRICS and Western economies was becoming increasingly confrontational, with pressure tactics now extending beyond conventional economic measures.
“Sometimes competition is taking some ugly forms,” he said, arguing that such actions were visible even at the government level.
He pointed to what he described as the destruction of pipelines, attempts to block international transport corridors and the seizure of maritime vessels.
“Sometimes there are measures resorted to of a physical nature, when pipelines are being destroyed, when attempts are undertaken to block international transport corridors, to seize maritime vessels,” Putin said.
In a seemingly veiled dig at the US, Putin also slammed secondary sanctions aimed at countries that continue to pursue their own economic interests.
According to Putin, Western countries were attempting to retain their former competitive advantage by restricting trade and pressuring governments that maintain economic ties with Russia.
Putin said Russia had responded to the pressure by strengthening its economic and political resilience and deepening ties with “reliable, predictable partners”.
PM MODI-PUTIN BILATERAL TALKS
The Russian President’s remarks came shortly after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders discussed energy, defence and broader bilateral ties, while also exchanging views on conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region.
The discussions also covered the impact of the conflicts on maritime trade and the safety of Indian seafarers.
PM Modi reiterated India’s position that conflicts should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy and said New Delhi remained ready to contribute to peace efforts.
Energy remains a central pillar of India-Russia ties. India, one of the largest buyers of Russian crude, has continued purchasing Russian oil despite Western pressure.
Russia’s share of India’s crude imports reached a record 51 percent in July 2026, although that proportion was expected to moderate in August as Chinese purchases increased.
The two leaders also visited an India-Russia industrial exhibition featuring Russian capabilities in artificial intelligence, aviation, space, nuclear science, heavy engineering, mining and banking.
PM Modi presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, the classical Tamil work comprising 1,330 couplets.
Against the backdrop of growing Western pressure and disruptions to global trade, India and Russia are seeking to further expand their economic relationship.
The two countries have set a target of raising bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030, from nearly USD 70 billion in 2024-25.
The BRICS summit is expected to provide further momentum to discussions on trade, energy, alternative payment mechanisms and cooperation among member states.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
