India is finding itself in a tricky situation over oil imports following the Donald Trump administration’s claim that the country will directly or indirectly stop importing oil from Russia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk into 7 Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner on Thursday evening during the Russian leader’s two-day visit to India. (ANI Photo)
India is finding itself in a tricky situation over oil imports following the Donald Trump administration’s claim that the country will directly or indirectly stop importing oil from Russia.
Multiple sources in the government contacted by The Statesman were evasive on the issue, merely stating that things are still hazy.
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While not denying what US President Donald Trump has publicly stated, New Delhi’s response has been quite ambiguous in the matter so far, raising more questions than answers that are available.
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Asked about Trump’s statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal last week preferred not to give a straight reply. ‘’Insofar as India’s energy sourcing is concerned, the government has stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government. Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this. ”All of India’s actions are taken and will be taken with this in mind,” he said, not ruling out the possibility of India continuing to purchase oil from Russia.
Relations between India and the US, which went through intense strain last year over India’s oil purchases from Russia, have started looking up again after President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the trade deal on Monday. The two countries have, meanwhile, announced a framework for an interim agreement which will eventually lead to the signing of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
One sticking point between the two countries that delayed the much-anticipated trade deal between the two countries was India’s oil purchases from Russia. President Trump had charged India with funding the Russian war machine by purchasing oil amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
New Delhi’s contention was that it was buying oil from Russia since Moscow was giving it a heavy discount, as also to maintain stability in the global energy market. However, President Trump refused to buy New Delhi’s argument and imposed a 25 per cent punitive tariff on India in addition to the 25 per cent tax he had already slapped on Indian imports. The total tariff on India has now been reduced from 50 per cent to 18 per cent.
But the million-dollar question is whether India will halt oil supplies from Russia and jettison its time-tested relationship with Moscow. Indian imports of Russian crude have already gone down due to the impact of US-imposed sanctions on Russian companies Rosneft and Luoil. According to available figures, India’s imports of Russian crude in December 2025 were worth USD 2.7 billion, the lowest monthly figure since February 2025. The supplies in December were nearly 27 per cent lower compared with imports worth USD 3.7 billion in November.
New Delhi has already been doing a tightrope walk in ties with major world powers in the wake of an uncertain global scenario and the tariff wall erected by President Trump.
Moscow has been closely monitoring the developments with regard to the much-touted Indo-US trade deal and its implications on its own ties with New Delhi. Russia has already stated publicly that it has not received any communication from India on oil purchases. While playing down President Trump’s claim, Russia said it is well aware that it is not the only supplier of crude to India, which has always purchased its products from other nations as well.
Former diplomats say India will never officially confirm the halting of petroleum products from Russia, despite the current situation in which it is becoming more and more difficult for New Delhi to continue these purchases.
Russia’s growing friendship with China and a steady improvement in its ties with Pakistan continue to be matters of concern for New Delhi.
Sources said India will continue to weigh from time to time the pros and cons of its actions while dealing with the complicated issue of oil purchases. To keep Washington in good humour, New Delhi has already declared that, apart from purchasing energy products from the US, it is open to exploring the commercial merits of crude supply from Venezuela.
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