No reason to believe India rethinking oil purchases: Russia's foreign minister
Russia has said it sees no change in India's stance on buying Russian oil, stressing the trade remains mutually beneficial, even as the US claims New Delhi has agreed to stop such imports.
Russia’s foreign ministry said it has “no reason to believe that our Indian friends have reconsidered their approach” to buying Russian oil, underlining that the energy trade remains mutually beneficial and helps maintain stability in the international energy market.
The ministry said India’s purchases of Russian oil are “beneficial to both countries and contribute to maintaining stability in the international energy market,” reiterating that Moscow does not see any change in New Delhi’s stance on sourcing crude from Russia.
The remarks come after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt repeated the claim that India has agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil and shift its crude imports to the DC following direct talks between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday, Leavitt said New Delhi had committed to ending Russian oil imports and increasing purchases from the US.
Addressing the media, Leavitt said the agreement followed a direct phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.
Leavitt framed the deal as part of a broader effort to strengthen US economic interests and reduce India’s dependence on Russian energy supplies, especially in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Notably, while US officials have repeatedly claimed that India has agreed to halt Russian oil purchases, New Delhi has not issued any formal statement confirming such a commitment.
Earlier, Russia's spokesman Dmitry Peskov also claimed that it had heard no official statements from India about halting purchases of Russian oil and that Moscow intended to develop its strategic partnership with New Delhi.
India's Russian oil imports slipped in January, continuing a downturn that began in December as refiners sought more alternative barrels, Reuters sources reported.
Indian refiners have not been told by the government to stop buying Russian oil and would need a wind-down period to complete purchases already in process, two refining sources said to Reuters on Tuesday, following the trade deal with Washington.