New Delhi: India has no plans to halt its oil purchases from Russia despite threats of penalties from US President Donald Trump.
Two senior Indian government officials confirmed the development, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the diplomatic sensitivity of the issue, Reuters reported.
“These are long-term oil contracts,” one official said. “It’s not as simple as just stopping overnight.”
Trump recently raised the stakes, warning of new penalties for countries continuing trade with Russia.
In a post on Truth Social last month, he hinted that nations buying Russian oil or arms could face 100% tariffs unless Moscow moves toward a peace agreement with Ukraine.
On Friday, he claimed that India had agreed to stop importing Russian oil, an assertion Indian officials say is inaccurate.
The US media reported on Saturday that New Delhi has issued no directive to reduce or halt Russian crude imports. “There’s been no change in policy,” one official was quoted as saying.
Although Indian state refiners have recently paused fresh purchases of Russian oil due to narrowing discounts, they remain key players in the Russian oil market.
At a weekly press briefing on Friday, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed that India’s decisions on energy sourcing are shaped by market dynamics and national interests. “We look at what’s available in the markets and assess the global situation accordingly,” he said.
Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s strong ties with Moscow, calling the relationship a “steady and time-tested partnership,” and cautioned against viewing India’s foreign policy through the lens of third-party expectations. “Our relationships stand on their own merit,” he added.
Despite the temporary pause in purchases, Russia remains India’s top crude supplier, accounting for roughly 35% of total oil imports during the first half of 2025.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, received around 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil from January to June, up 1% compared to the same period last year.
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