Russia has rejected claims by the United States that India has agreed to halt purchases of Russian crude oil, asserting that there is no indication New Delhi has changed its position on energy imports. Speaking during a weekly press briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said India’s continued import of Russian hydrocarbons serves mutual economic interests and contributes to stability in global energy markets.
Zakharova stated that Moscow had “no reason” to believe India had altered its policy regarding Russian oil purchases, dismissing recent remarks made by US leaders. She criticised statements by Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accusing Washington of attempting to dictate energy decisions to sovereign nations. According to her, India’s energy cooperation with Russia remains beneficial for both countries and helps maintain balance in international oil markets.
The Russian response followed assertions from Washington that India had committed to stopping imports of Russian crude as part of broader diplomatic and trade discussions. Rubio had said last week that India agreed to discontinue such purchases, while Trump earlier made similar claims when announcing a trade arrangement with India in February.
Those statements came after a phone conversation between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and coincided with adjustments in bilateral trade measures. The United States later reduced tariffs on certain Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent, including the removal of a previously imposed 25 per cent tariff that had been linked to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
India has so far neither confirmed nor denied Washington’s assertions. New Delhi has consistently maintained that its energy procurement decisions are guided by national interest considerations, emphasising energy security and affordability as key priorities.
Russia has previously accused the United States of attempting to curb purchases of Russian oil by countries such as India through sanctions, tariffs, and diplomatic pressure. During the briefing, Zakharova also criticised European allies supporting Ukraine, alleging that they were not genuinely interested in pursuing a negotiated peace settlement.
