Moscow: The Kremlin said it has heard no statements from India about stopping Russian oil purchases. The remark came after US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India that included halting Russian oil imports. Kremlin officials said they are carefully analysing Trump’s comments on the issue.
The US-India trade deal reduces tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. In exchange, India would stop buying Russian oil and lower trade barriers. Analysts say the agreement aims to boost US exports to India while limiting Russian energy revenues.
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Asked if India had halted Russian oil purchases, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “So far, we have not heard any statements from Delhi on this issue.” He emphasized that Russia values its long-standing strategic partnership with India and wants to maintain strong ties.
Peskov added, “We respect US-India relations, but we attach no less importance to developing advanced ties with India.” He stressed that Moscow intends to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including energy, trade, and defense projects.
Read more: US and India strike trade deal cutting tariffs and reshaping oil ties
India has been the top buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude since the 2022 Ukraine war began. Western nations have criticized this, imposing sanctions to limit Russia’s energy revenue, which funds military operations. Russia sees India as a key long-term partner in energy and trade.