US President Calls India’s Reported Move a “Good Step”; Indian Officials Reiterate Energy Decisions Driven by Market & National Interest
Trump Suggests India Has Stopped Buying Russian Oil
In a statement that stirred international headlines, former US President Donald Trump said India may have stopped purchasing Russian oil — a claim Indian officials have firmly denied.
Speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Trump said:
“I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That’s what I heard, I don’t know if that’s right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens.”
⚠️ US Pressure Mounts Amid Trade Tensions
Trump’s remarks come in the backdrop of growing pressure from Washington over India’s continued trade with Moscow. The US recently imposed:
- Penalties on Indian crude oil and military imports from Russia
- A 25% additional import duty on Indian goods
- A threat of 100% tariffs on nations purchasing Russian oil, unless a peace deal is struck between Russia and Ukraine
Both Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have criticized India for importing discounted Russian crude despite ongoing Western sanctions.
ndia Denies Halting Russian Oil Imports
Sources within India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have refuted any claims that Indian state-run refiners have paused Russian oil purchases. An MEA official said:
“India’s energy purchases are driven by national interests and market forces. We do not have any reports of Indian oil firms halting Russian imports.”
On Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal echoed the same stance:
“You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements… We are not aware of any specifics.”
🛢️ What the Oil Market Data Shows
Reports suggest a temporary pause in purchases by Indian state refiners as discounts on Russian oil have narrowed:
- According to Reuters, Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp, and Mangalore Refinery have not sought Russian crude in the past week.
- These firms have shifted to spot markets for alternatives like Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude and West African oil.
Notably:
- Private companies like Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy remain major buyers of Russian oil.
- State refiners still control over 60% of India’s 5.2 million barrels per day refining capacity.
Also Read : India Responds Calmly to US Tariff and Criticism Over Russian Oil Purchases
