Russia has reaffirmed that India is free to purchase crude oil from any supplier, countering US claims that the India–US trade deal requires New Delhi to reduce Russian imports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that India’s strategy of diversifying energy sources is longstanding and that Moscow has received no official notice of India planning to stop buying Russian crude. Russian officials highlighted that trade in Russian oil has been mutually beneficial, supplying a significant share of India’s demand.
The clarification follows US President Donald Trump’s statement suggesting that India agreed under the trade deal to shift purchases from Russia to the US and Venezuela, a position not confirmed by India.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry noted that hydrocarbon trade with India remains stable and strategically important. Analysts pointed out that replacing Russian crude with US oil would be complex, given variations in oil grades and refining requirements.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs also reaffirmed that imports from Venezuela or other countries would depend on commercial viability and energy security, underscoring that sourcing decisions are market-driven, not dictated by external pressure.
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