Russia on Wednesday said there was “nothing new” about India diversifying its crude oil imports, responding to claims by US President Donald Trump that New Delhi had agreed to cut purchases of Russian oil under a recent India–US trade deal. The Kremlin stressed that India has always sourced crude from multiple countries and remains free to choose its suppliers.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia is not India’s only oil partner and that diversification has long been part of New Delhi’s energy strategy. Russian officials also noted that Moscow has not received any formal communication from India indicating a complete halt to Russian oil imports. Russia’s Foreign Ministry added that hydrocarbon trade benefits both countries and contributes to stability in the global energy market.
India emerged as one of the largest buyers of discounted Russian crude after Western sanctions on Moscow following the Ukraine war in 2022. From accounting for a negligible share of India’s imports before 2021, Russian oil rose to about one-third of India’s total crude intake. At its peak, India imported over two million barrels per day from Russia, though volumes have eased in recent months amid trade pressures and tariffs imposed by the US on Indian goods linked to Russian energy purchases.
Energy experts say a full and sudden switch away from Russian crude is unlikely. Russian Urals crude is heavier and suited to Indian refineries, while US shale oil is lighter, making one-to-one substitution costly and technically challenging. Analysts also note that the US may not be able to match the volumes Russia supplies to India in the short term.
While India continues to diversify its energy basket to manage costs and geopolitical risks, officials in Moscow believe reports of a complete break are overstated. For now, India appears set to balance commercial needs with diplomatic pressures, keeping multiple supply options open in a volatile global energy market.
