Webdesk: Despite threats of possible sanctions from US President Donald Trump, India has decided to continue buying oil from Russia.
Senior Indian government sources, speaking to a British news agency on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said that the Modi administration has decided to keep purchasing Russian oil despite American pressure.
President Trump, who is serving his second term this year, has increased pressure on countries that buy oil and weapons from Russia.
He has not only imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports but has also warned of further sanctions if India does not stop buying oil from Russia.
However, according to the British news agency, Indian officials have made it clear that there will be no immediate change in policy, as these are long-term oil agreements.
Suddenly stopping the purchases is not easy. Another official explained that India’s import of Russian oil has helped stabilise global oil prices, even though Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russian oil.
Although, unlike Iranian and Venezuelan oil, Russian oil is not directly sanctioned, India is reportedly buying it at prices below the European Union’s price cap.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not officially responded to Reuters’ request for comment on the report.
However, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a recent press briefing that India and Russia have a “stable and time-tested partnership,” and that India meets its energy needs based on global conditions and available opportunities.
President Trump, who has declared ending the war in Ukraine as a foreign policy priority, has warned that he will impose 10 per cent tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian oil until Russia signs a peace deal with Ukraine.
Russia is currently the biggest oil supplier to India, which is the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer.
From January to June 2025, India imported an average of 1.75 million barrels of Russian oil per day, 1 per cent more than last year.
Although the Indian government has shown no sign of changing its position, market trends show a short-term decline.
According to Reuters sources, Indian state-run companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, and Mangalore Refinery have not recently purchased Russian oil, as discounts have decreased and Russian supply has become limited.
Meanwhile, Nayara Energy, which is majority-owned by Russian company Rosneft, remains a major buyer of Russian oil. However, it has recently faced sanctions from the European Union.
