Russia on Tuesday said it has received no official communication from India regarding any decision to stop purchasing Russian oil, responding to claims made by US President Donald Trump following the announcement of a new India-US trade deal.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had not heard anything from New Delhi suggesting a halt in oil imports, even as the United States linked tariff concessions to such a move.
“So far, we haven’t heard any statements from New Delhi on this matter,” Peskov was quoted as saying by AFP.
Trump’s Claim After Trade Deal Announcement
On Monday, President Trump announced a trade agreement with India that includes lower reciprocal tariffs and expanded market access for American goods. During the announcement, he claimed that India had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and significantly increase imports from the US.
India has since confirmed the tariff reduction aspect of the agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the development following a phone call with Trump. However, Indian authorities have made no public statement regarding any change in policy on Russian oil imports.
Tariff Reduction Confirmed, Oil Issue Unclear
A White House official told Hindustan Times that the additional 25% punitive tariff imposed on India over its Russian oil purchases would be removed as part of the agreement, bringing the final tariff rate down to 18%.
While India has acknowledged the revised tariff rate, there has been no confirmation on whether New Delhi has agreed to stop sourcing crude oil from Russia — a key point of contention between Washington and New Delhi in recent years.
Russia Reaffirms Strategic Ties
Peskov emphasised that Russia values its long-standing relationship with India and intends to continue strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. Moscow has historically been a major defence and energy partner for New Delhi.
Economic Concerns Over Oil Shift
Global ratings agency Moody’s cautioned that an immediate halt to Russian oil imports could disrupt India’s economic growth.
“A complete shift away from Russian oil could tighten global supply, push up prices, and result in higher inflation,” Moody’s said, noting that India is among the world’s largest oil importers.
Opposition Seeks Clarity
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has demanded full disclosure of the India-US trade agreement. The party has raised concerns over multiple claims linked to the deal, including potential changes to agricultural tariffs, proposals for zero-duty trade, and the reported pause in Russian oil purchases cited by President Trump.