'India is free to buy oil anywhere': Kremlin rejects Trump’s claim on Russian oil

Kremlin rebuffs Trump’s India oil claim

India is free to source crude oil from any country, and its efforts to diversify suppliers are nothing new, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, rejecting claims by US President Donald Trump.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was neither the sole nor exclusive supplier of oil and petroleum products to India. “India has always purchased these products from other countries. Therefore, we see nothing new here,” he said.

Peskov was responding to Trump’s recent assertion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead turn to supplies from the United States and possibly Venezuela. A day earlier, Peskov said Moscow had received no official communication from India indicating any plan to end imports of Russian crude.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry also emphasised the importance of energy ties with India. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said trade in hydrocarbons benefits both countries and contributes to stability in global energy markets, adding that Moscow was ready to maintain close cooperation with New Delhi in the sector.

Russian business radio Kommersant FM pointed out that, unlike Trump, PM Modi has made no public reference to any agreement to halt purchases of Russian oil.

Energy analyst Igor Yushkov said it would be difficult for India to completely replace Russian crude. He noted that US shale oil is largely light-grade, while Russia supplies heavier, sulphur-rich Urals crude. Mixing different grades would increase costs, making a direct switch impractical.

Yushkov also said the US would struggle to match Russia’s export volumes of 1.5 to 2 million barrels per day, suggesting Trump’s comments were aimed at portraying the talks as a clear victory for Washington.

He recalled that when Russia redirected oil exports to India in 2022, global prices jumped, driving fuel costs in the US to record levels.

India imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil. Russian supplies, which were minimal before 2022, rose sharply after Western countries reduced trade with Moscow. Imports have since eased, however, slipping to around 1.1 million barrels per day in early January, according to Kpler data.

(With inputs from PTI)