Moscow: India will continue sourcing crude oil from wherever it secures the “best deal”, Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar has said, reiterating New Delhi’s stance that its energy purchases are guided solely by national interest and the need to ensure energy security for 1.4 billion citizens.
In an interview with Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, published on Sunday, Kumar stressed that trade is driven by “commercial considerations”, not political pressure. “Indian companies will continue buying from wherever they get the best deal. Our objective is energy security for the people of India,” he said.
The envoy dismissed US criticism of India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude, arguing that such cooperation has contributed to stabilising global oil markets. “India’s cooperation with Russia, as with several other countries, has helped bring about stability in the global oil market,” Kumar noted.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions after Washington recently doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, including an additional 25 per cent levy linked to India’s Russian oil imports. The US has alleged that India’s crude trade is indirectly funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine — a charge India has strongly rejected.
Calling the move “unfair, unreasonable and unjustified”, Kumar asserted that New Delhi will “continue taking measures that protect the national interest”. He further pointed out that several Western countries, including the US and European nations, also continue energy trade with Russia.
Backing the envoy’s comments, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday hit back at Washington’s criticism, saying, “It’s funny to have people from a pro-business American administration accusing others of doing business. If you have a problem, don’t buy. Nobody forces you to.”
India has consistently maintained that its energy procurement — whether from Russia or elsewhere — is determined by market dynamics and the imperative of safeguarding the nation’s energy security.
