Putin cites US purchase of uranium to mock Trump tariffs; ‘America’s moment of economic reckoning…’

At the Valdai Forum, President Vladimir Putin highlighted ongoing Russian uranium exports to the US despite energy sanctions and rising geopolitical tensions. Putin noted that America, while pressuring partners like India with threats of tariffs for purchasing Russian oil, continues to buy Russian uranium for its nuclear industry—even after the US formally enacted a ban in 2024. Putin called the situation a classic double standard: Washington seeks cheap Russian nuclear fuel, while telling India and others to stop Russian energy imports or face new tariffs, a policy he argued is economically irrational and politically unacceptable for major powers. Despite sanctions rhetoric, US data shows Russia supplied around 20% of American nuclear fuel in 2024–2025, with contracts worth $800 million to $1.2 billion annually. Putin predicted that tariff threats and restrictions would ultimately raise US prices, disrupt global trade, and damage relationships with self-respecting nations like India and China.