New Delhi— Russia has slammed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of “substantial” penalties on India for continuing to import Russian crude oil, calling the warning an example of “illegal trade pressure.” The sharp response from Moscow comes ahead of two high-level Indian visits to Russia — National Security Adviser Ajit Doval this week and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar later this month.
Doval’s upcoming talks in Moscow are expected to focus on New Delhi’s future plans for crude oil imports, especially as Russia hints at possible price cuts in response to recent EU decisions. The European Union has lowered the price cap on Russian oil, which had stood at $60 per barrel since December 2022, opening a window for India to further reduce its energy costs.
India is currently the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, which accounts for nearly 42% of its total crude imports. The U.S. has intensified its pressure on India, with Trump announcing a 25% tariff on Indian goods and threatening penalties against nations trading strategically with Moscow. The remarks were accompanied by Trump’s controversial description of both India and Russia as “dead economies.”
Despite the threats, India shows no sign of reducing its dependence on Russian crude. The government has reiterated its right to pursue energy partnerships that secure national interests and economic stability. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hit back Monday night, calling Washington’s targeting of India “unjustified and unreasonable,” and emphasized that India would “take all necessary measures” to protect its economic security.
The situation is further complicated by the EU’s recent sanctions on Russian energy interests in India, including the Rosneft-operated Nayara Energy Ltd, which runs a massive 20 million tonne-per-year refinery in Gujarat and over 6,750 fuel stations. Rosneft owns 49.13% of the company.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the U.S. approach amounted to threats meant to “force countries to cut trade relations with Russia.” He added, “We do not consider such statements to be legal. Sovereign countries must have and do have the right to choose their partners in trade and economic cooperation.”
India has also flagged Western double standards. The MEA noted that EU-Russia trade extends far beyond energy — encompassing fertilizers, machinery, metals, and chemicals — and pointed to the U.S. continuing to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear plants, palladium for electric vehicles, and other key resources from Russia.
India’s firm stance sets the tone for what may be a defining period in its foreign policy and global energy strategy, especially with Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to visit India for the annual leaders’ summit before attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China next month.
