Russia has confirmed that it will continue supplying crude oil to India at a negotiated discount of around five per cent, saying bilateral energy ties would not be derailed by external pressure or sanctions imposed by the United States. India remains one of the two largest buyers of Russian crude, alongside China, after Moscow reoriented its exports in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.
Since early 2022, Russia and India have expanded their energy cooperation substantially, settling a growing portion of trade in national currencies and offering discounted cargoes which have helped New Delhi meet domestic demand. Washington has repeatedly criticised the arrangement and warned that countries purchasing Russian oil could face secondary sanctions.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Evgeniy Griva, Deputy Trade Representative of Russia to India, said, “There will be a 5 per cent discount, subject to negotiation, on Russian crude oil purchases to India”. “Despite the political situation, approximately the same level of oil will be imported by India,” he added.
He emphasised that the pricing arrangement remained a private matter between commercial entities. “As for discounts, it's a commercial secret. I think, because it's usually just dialogue between businessmen and approximately usually 5%. It's fluctuating, but usually it's plus-minus 5%.”
Griva was accompanied by Roman Babushkin, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission, who acknowledged that the external environment had become more difficult but underlined Moscow’s confidence in its strategic partnership with India. “We are confident that India-Russia energy cooperation will continue notwithstanding the external pressure,” Babushkin said.
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“It is a challenging situation for New Delhi, but we have trust in our ties,” he added.
The United States has sharply criticised India’s continued purchases of Russian crude, claiming that the arrangement is helping fund Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro accused New Delhi of acting as “a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs”.
Last week, Washington imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil, a move New Delhi described as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”. The Indian government has warned that the measure could negatively affect labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, marine products and leather exports.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has insisted that India “would not back down in the face of economic pressure”, arguing that the country’s energy requirements cannot be compromised.
During a briefing on Tuesday, Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump had imposed the tariffs specifically to create “secondary pressure” on Russia. “He’s taken actions, as you've seen, sanctions on India and other actions as well ... he wants to see this war end,” she said.
The United States has repeatedly warned that it could take similar action against any country that continues purchasing Russian energy if there is no visible progress toward ending the Ukraine conflict.
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