Amid United States pressure to halt Russian oil purchases as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war, India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, has firmly rejected Washington’s punitive tariffs on Indian goods, stressing that New Delhi will continue buying oil from wherever it secures the “best deal”.
Speaking to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, Kumar described the Donald Trump’s move to increase tariffs by 25 per cent raising tariffs to more than 50 per cent, as “unfair, unreasonable and unjustified”.
He stressed that India’s energy policy is centred on ensuring reliable supplies for its 1.4 billion citizens. “Our cooperation with Russia, as with several other countries, has helped stabilise the global oil market,” he said. “The government will continue taking measures that protect the national interest.”
India’s stand on energy security
According to Kumar, India’s oil imports are purely commercial transactions driven by market factors. Indian companies, he said, will continue to buy from whichever source provides the most competitive rates. He added that it was hypocritical for critics to single out India, noting that both the United States and European nations also continue to trade with Russia despite the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier echoed similar views, condemning the tariff hike as an “unjustified and unreasonable” step. He argued that India would defend its strategic and economic autonomy and dismissed accusations of enabling Moscow’s energy sector. “If you have a problem with India buying oil or refined products from Russia, don’t buy from us,” he said at a recent event in Delhi.
India–Russia trade
Kumar also dismissed concerns over the financial viability of India–Russia trade. He confirmed that the two countries had established a functioning system of settlement in national currencies, ensuring that payments for oil imports proceed smoothly without disruption.
“The arrangements are working well. There is no problem now in payment for oil imports,” he emphasised. This assurance is particularly significant as Western sanctions have complicated global financial channels for transactions with Russia.
Expanding trade with Russia beyond energy
While oil dominates bilateral trade, Kumar underlined that India is eager to expand its exports to Russia across a wider range of sectors. He identified textiles, fashion products, construction materials, automobiles and spare parts, electronics, and IT-related products as key areas with strong growth potential. With many leading global manufacturers producing in India, he expressed confidence that Indian goods could find a larger market in Russia.
Services are another untapped area, he noted, particularly in financial technology, digital solutions, and logistics. “India’s exports to Russia have grown, but remain far below potential,” he said, highlighting the need to boost services and improve infrastructure supporting trade flows.
Rising trade tensions with Washington
The latest US tariffs, introduced under President Donald Trump, are widely seen as an attempt to pressure India to scale back energy cooperation with Moscow. Washington argues that New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil undermine efforts to isolate Moscow economically. India, however, maintains that its trade decisions are dictated by national interest and energy security, not external pressure.