The Kremlin said Tuesday it has received no official confirmation from India that it plans to stop buying Russian oil, casting doubt on claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that New Delhi agreed to halt imports as part of a newly announced trade deal with Washington.
Trump said on Monday that the United States and India had reached an agreement that would lower U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent from 50 percent. He linked the tariff cuts to what he described as India’s commitment to end purchases of Russian oil and ease other trade restrictions.
Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was carefully examining Trump’s remarks but emphasized that no formal message had been received from Indian authorities. “So far, we have not heard any statements from Delhi on this issue,” Peskov said, according to Reuters.
He stressed that Russia continues to value its long standing relationship with India, even as it acknowledges New Delhi’s growing ties with Washington.
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“We respect bilateral U.S. Indian relations,” Peskov said. “But we attach no less importance to the development of an advanced strategic partnership between Russia and India. This is the most important thing for us, and we intend to further develop our bilateral relations with Delhi.”
India became the largest buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude after Russia’s war in Ukraine began in 2022, helping Moscow redirect energy exports away from Europe. The shift drew criticism from Western governments that imposed sanctions on Russia’s energy sector in an effort to reduce its ability to fund the conflict.
Indian officials have repeatedly said their oil purchases are driven by national energy needs and price considerations, while maintaining that the country is not violating international sanctions regimes.
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As of Tuesday, Indian officials had not publicly responded to Trump’s statement, leaving open questions about whether any change in oil purchasing policy is imminent. Analysts say any significant shift would have implications for global energy markets, Russia’s export revenues, and India’s balancing act between major global powers.