New Delhi: India on Friday said it is closely monitoring developments related to a proposed bipartisan Russia sanctions bill in the United States Congress that could allow Washington to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries purchasing oil from Russia, including India, China and Brazil.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi is fully aware of the bill being discussed in the US and is carefully tracking all issues linked to it. He reiterated that India’s energy policy is guided by market realities and the need to ensure affordable supplies for its population of over 1.4 billion.
Jaiswal said India determines its energy strategy after assessing global market conditions and the prevailing geopolitical environment, while keeping affordability and energy security at the centre of its decision-making. He underlined that ensuring access to reasonably priced energy remains a critical priority for the country.
The remarks come a day after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham claimed that US President Donald Trump has backed the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, which Graham said he has been working on for several months. According to Graham, the proposed legislation would empower the US President to penalise countries that continue to buy discounted Russian oil, which he alleged is helping finance Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
In a post on social media platform X, Graham said the timing of the bill was significant, claiming Ukraine was making concessions for peace while accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of prolonging the conflict. He added that the bill would give President Trump significant leverage over countries such as India, China and Brazil, with the aim of pressuring them to stop importing Russian oil.
Graham also expressed hope for strong bipartisan support for the legislation, suggesting it could be taken up for a vote in Congress as early as next week.
India has consistently maintained that its energy purchases are driven by national interest and economic considerations, particularly amid global supply disruptions and volatile prices following the Ukraine conflict.
