Russia did not start war, sought peace for 8 years: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the growing partnership between Russia and India does not harm any third countries and is conducted solely in the interests of the two nations, Sputnik reported, citing an interview Putin gave to India Today.

In the interview, Putin underscored that neither he nor Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ever worked against other states, highlighting a cooperative approach based on mutual benefit.

Putin is on a diplomatic visit to India for high-level talks with Modi between December 3 and 5. He is set to attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, a longstanding mechanism that alternates between the two countries, where the two will “review the full spectrum of the India–Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”

Putin addressed Russian oil exports to India, describing the supply as “evenly paced” and stressing that trade in petroleum products remains stable and reliable. He noted that Russian companies view Indian partners as highly dependable and raised the issue of equal treatment in global energy markets, questioning why India should be restricted if the United States continues to purchase Russian fuel.

On broader energy ties, Putin insisted that Russia-India relations are resilient and insulated from political fluctuations, including recent developments in Ukraine. He reaffirmed that India’s growing role as a major petroleum supplier to Europe reflects the strength and continuity of the energy partnership between the two nations.

Defense cooperation cornerstone of Russia-India partnetship
Defense cooperation remains a cornerstone of the partnership, with Putin describing Russia not only as a supplier but also as a technology-sharing partner with India. He emphasized the level of trust between the two countries, noting that Indian military experts gain a deep understanding of operational requirements through close collaboration with Russia.

Putin also praised the T-90 tanks produced in India, emphasizing that “India produces our famous T-90 tanks. Believe me when I tell you that these tanks are considered to be among the best in the world.”

In addition, Putin highlighted future-oriented collaboration in areas such as space exploration, nuclear energy, shipbuilding, aviation, and artificial intelligence, stressing the importance of stability in these strategic sectors and noting that effective commercial relations between Russian and Indian companies predate the situation in Ukraine.

“Our partnership with India covers such areas as space exploration, energy, especially nuclear energy, which is illustrated by the well-known nuclear power plant project, shipbuilding and aviation. There are many interesting areas for future-oriented cooperation. Take artificial intelligence, for example. We will probably discuss it further,” Putin told India Today.

He noted that the two countries’ defense cooperation is not only transactional, but a symbiotic partnership, stating, “We are not just selling, but we are sharing technology, and this a very rare occurrence in the defense sector.”

New centers of power are emerging
Putin commented on the shifting balance of global power, saying that “new centers of power are emerging,” underscoring the importance of maintaining stability among the world’s largest nations as a foundation for progress in both bilateral and international relations.

Addressing the Ukraine crisis, Putin accused Western countries of instigating the conflict by supporting Ukrainian nationalists and argued that Russia did not start the war, but has sought peaceful solutions for eight years. “The special military operation is an attempt to end the war that the West unleashed using Ukrainian nationalists,” the Russian president stated.

He emphasized that Ukraine’s security should not come at the expense of Russia’s security, calling on Kiev to recognize that the best way to resolve issues is through negotiations.

US actively looking for solution to Ukraine war
Putin said that the United States is actively looking for a solution to the Ukrainian conflict, noting that US President Donald Trump pursues his own policy interests in the situation, guided by advisors and economic considerations, and that Trump sincerely seeks to reduce losses arising from the conflict. He added that such decisions are informed by advisors who believe that certain measures, including trade tariffs, ultimately benefit the US economy, while also stressing that Trump, like Russia, is guided by his nation’s interests.

The Russian president criticized Ukrainian authorities for prioritizing a narrow nationalist agenda over the interests of the wider population, comparing the current leadership’s mentality to that of a “neo-Nazi regime”. He also noted that the West never intended to comply with the Minsk agreements, using them instead to enable Ukraine to arm itself, while Russia allowed those wishing to leave Donbas to do so freely.

On NATO, Putin insisted that the alliance honor promises made to Russia in the 1990s not to expand eastward, calling for a solution to Ukraine’s security needs that does not threaten Russia. Regarding Crimea, he stated that Russia did not need to take the port of Sevastopol, as it was already Russian under prior agreements, thus describing Russia’s actions as protecting its people in the wake of Ukraine’s 2014 coup.