Putin Mocks US Hypocrisy: Why America Still Buys Russian Uranium While Pressuring India
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!At the Valdai Forum in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply criticized the United States for what he termed its “classic double standard” in global trade and sanctions policy. He argued that the US is actively pressuring partners like India to halt energy imports from Russia, while simultaneously relying on Russian imports for its own domestic needs.1
The Hypocrisy in Nuclear Fuel Trade
Putin’s primary point of contention was the US reliance on Russian nuclear fuel:
- US Uranium Imports: Putin stated that Russia is the second-largest supplier of uranium to the American nuclear industry.
- Significant Revenue: He pointed out that Russia supplies about 25% of the US market’s uranium, expecting to earn around $1.2 billion from these sales in 2025, up from approximately $800 million in 2024.
- The Double Standard: Putin used this ongoing trade to highlight Washington’s inconsistency: the US continues to purchase essential nuclear materials from Moscow, yet demands that New Delhi sacrifice affordable energy supplies.
Pressure Tactics Against India
The core of the US pressure is directed at India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil following the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
- Trump’s Tariffs: The text notes that the Trump administration first imposed a 25% tariff on India, which was later doubled to 50%, explicitly as a penalty for buying Russian oil.
- India’s Defense: India’s Ministry of External Affairs had previously defended the trade as a strategic necessity and highlighted the hypocrisy of the West, pointing out that the European Union had $68 billion worth of trade with Russia last year, and the US imported other key Russian commodities like chemicals and fertilisers, in addition to uranium.2
- China’s Role: Putin also pointed out the selective nature of the pressure, noting that China, not India, is the biggest buyer of Russian oil.
In essence, Putin framed the US policy as an irrational attempt to force Moscow’s partners into submission, arguing it is politically unacceptable for sovereign nations like India to face such demands when the US itself is unwilling to cut off its own profitable and strategic trade with Russia.
Do you want to know more about the US ban on Russian uranium imports that was signed into law in 2024?
