The statement from the Kremlin came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that India had agreed to stop buying Russian oil as part of a newly announced trade deal with the United States. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday that Moscow had received no official indication from New Delhi of any such decision.
"India is free to buy oil from any country, and there is nothing new about its decision to diversify its crude suppliers," Peskov said. "Russia has never been India's only energy partner. India has always purchased these products from other countries as well. Therefore, we see nothing unusual here."
Trump announced the trade agreement earlier this week following discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that the U.S. would reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%, in exchange for India halting Russian oil imports, easing trade barriers, and increasing purchases from the United States and potentially Venezuela.
India has not publicly confirmed or denied Trump's assertions regarding oil purchases. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that India's energy decisions prioritize the needs of its 1.4 billion people amid complex global dynamics.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reinforced the Kremlin's position, noting that hydrocarbon trade between the two countries remains beneficial and supports stability in global energy markets. "We are ready to continue close cooperation with our Indian partners," she said.
Experts highlight practical challenges in any major shift. Russia supplies India with heavy, high-sulphur Urals crude suited to Indian refineries, while U.S. oil is predominantly light-grade. Analysts like Igor Yushkov from the National Energy Security Fund point out that replacing 1.5 to 2 million barrels per day from Russia would be difficult for the U.S. to match quickly, potentially raising costs or risking supply disruptions.
India, the world's third-largest oil consumer, imports about 88% of its crude needs. Russian supplies surged after Western sanctions following the 2022 Ukraine invasion, with discounted Urals crude becoming attractive. Imports have since moderated due to market factors and diversification efforts, as noted by Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who attributed recent declines to avoiding over-reliance on any single source.
In December 2025, India ranked as Russia's third-largest oil buyer, though volumes dipped amid reduced purchases by major refiners like Reliance Industries and state firms, partly over sanction concerns.
The Kremlin reiterated that ongoing energy ties serve mutual interests, even as India explores broader sourcing options.
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