India is free to buy oil from any country, and there is nothing new in its decision to diversify crude suppliers, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, pushing back against claims made by US President Donald Trump.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was not the only supplier of oil and petroleum products to India and never had been. “India has always purchased these products from other countries. Therefore, we see nothing new here," he told.
Peskov was responding to a question about Trump’s recent claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead shift purchases to the United States and possibly Venezuela. A day earlier, Peskov said Russia had received no official statement from India suggesting it planned to halt Russian oil imports.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry also underlined the value of the energy relationship. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the hydrocarbons trade benefits both sides and helps maintain stability in global energy markets. She added that Moscow was ready to continue close cooperation with India in the sector.
Russian business radio Kommersant FM noted that, unlike Trump, PM Modi has not publicly mentioned any agreement to stop buying Russian oil.
Energy expert Igor Yushkov said a complete switch away from Russian crude would be difficult for India. He explained that US shale oil is mostly light-grade crude, while Russia supplies heavier, sulphur-rich Urals oil. Blending different grades would raise costs, making a simple replacement unlikely.
Yushkov also said the US would struggle to match Russia’s supply volumes of 1.5 to 2 million barrels per day. He suggested Trump’s remarks were aimed at presenting the talks as a clear US win.
He recalled that when Russia redirected exports to India in 2022, global oil prices surged, pushing fuel prices in the US to record highs.
India imports around 88 per cent of its crude oil. Russian oil, which made up a tiny share before 2022, rose sharply after Western countries cut ties with Moscow. However, imports have eased recently, falling to about 1.1 million barrels per day in early January, according to Kpler data.
Source: ANI