Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday stressed the need for respectful language in international relations. He made this statement during a press briefing in China, where he is on a four-day visit.

Meanwhile, he indirectly criticized the United States, which recently raised tariffs on India and China. According to Putin, both countries are powerful economies with their own laws and political systems.

“You have countries like India with 1.5 billion people, China, and powerful economies. But they also have their own domestic political mechanisms and laws,” he said.

Putin Warns Against Threatening Language

Furthermore, Putin warned against using threats when dealing with other nations. He argued that such language can weaken leaders in large countries and damage partnerships.

“When somebody tells you that they are going to punish you, you have to think, how can the leadership of those countries… those big countries, which have had difficult periods in their history too… you have to understand that if one of them shows weakness, their political career will be over,” he said.

As a result, Putin urged world leaders to avoid hostile terms and focus on cooperation. He added, “So, that influences the behaviour. They have to realise that they cannot use such a term while speaking with their partners. But ultimately, things will be sorted out, everything will take its place, and we will see no more political dialogue again.”

Push for a Multipolar World

In addition, Putin called for ending the unipolar world order where a single country dominates politics and security. He said the world must move toward a multipolar system that gives equal rights to every nation.

“I wouldn’t really speak about any domineering polls. It doesn’t mean that this new multipolar world should have any hegemons because no one is speaking about this, not in BRICS, not in the SCO. Everyone has equal rights in this multipolar world,” he explained.

Moreover, he highlighted India and China as major global economic powers but cautioned against letting economic strength turn into political dominance.

“From the international law point of view, everyone must have equal rights, everyone must be in a similar position. Yes, there are economic giants like India or China, and actually, our country is among the top four biggest economies,” Putin said.

“It doesn’t mean that anyone should dominate over politics or global security. We do not believe that there should be some domination, everyone must be equal,” he added.

Criticism of US Tariffs and Sanctions

Meanwhile, Putin’s remarks were widely seen as a subtle criticism of Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war. They were also interpreted as a response to US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, which have caused growing tensions in global markets.

Recently, Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods by 25%, while adding another 25% tax on Indian imports linked to Russian oil purchases, taking total duties to 50%.
India has strongly rejected these tariffs, calling them “unjustified and unreasonable.”

Global Balance of Power is Shifting

Consequently, Putin’s comments reflect a major shift in global power dynamics. India and China are increasingly challenging Western economic and political dominance, especially in trade.

Therefore, by promoting a multipolar world, Putin positioned Russia as a defender of equal rights for all nations. He also signaled Moscow’s intent to deepen partnerships with countries under US pressure, particularly India and China.