Putin Says Sanctions Threat on India Would “Boomerang”, Pushes Su-57 Defence Offer

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that any attempt to pressure India through “threats of sanctions” would “boomerang immediately” , asserting that New Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi consistently acts as a sovereign nation driven by its national interests .

Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said India has always taken independent decisions, particularly in defence procurement, and would continue to do so despite external pressure linked to Russian-origin systems such as the Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter .

He reiterated that India is free to choose defence equipment based on performance and cost-effectiveness, and said Russia would not be constrained by political conditions in its cooperation with New Delhi.

Beyond the sanctions remark, Putin significantly expanded Russia’s defence pitch, signalling readiness for “no restrictions” cooperation on the Su-57 , including joint development, co-production and deeper technology sharing , according to additional forum remarks reported by multiple agencies.

He also highlighted long-standing India–Russia defence ties, pointing to the BrahMos missile programme and wider joint research efforts as examples of strategic trust beyond a buyer-seller relationship.

Putin recalled earlier discussions on jointly developing the Su-57, saying the project did not materialise at the time, but Russia has since developed the aircraft independently and remains open to exporting it.

He also referred to India’s Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme , acknowledging its importance but noting that India may still require interim capabilities as the indigenous jet is unlikely to enter service before the mid-2030s.

Reports from the forum indicate Russia is actively positioning the Su-57 as a key option for India, amid broader efforts to deepen defence-industrial cooperation with New Delhi despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply-chain constraints linked to the Ukraine conflict.