Have no reports of Indian oil firms halting Russian imports: Government sources
News Mania Desk / 2nd August 2025
The day following reports that Indian state-owned oil firms ceased crude purchases from Russia, government insiders rejected the claims, emphasizing that India’s energy imports are influenced by market dynamics and national priorities. The comment was made as US President Donald Trump praised the news of the stop in Russian oil purchases, labeling it a “positive move”
“The government’s position was made clear yesterday (Friday) that the country’s energy purchases were driven by market forces and national interests and that they had no reports of Indian oil firms halting Russian imports,” sources said.
On Friday, in response to a question on India’s energy needs amid the evolving global dynamics and threats from US President Donald Trump, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randeep Jaiswal said that India’s position on the matter remains clear and is guided by market dynamics and national interest.
“On the specific question of energy, you are well aware of our position, what is our approach towards sourcing energy requirements. It is based on what is there on offer in the markets and also on the prevailing global situation,” Jaiswal said.
India is the largest purchaser of seaborne Russian crude, and the report noted that the country’s state refiners — Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd — have not requested Russian crude in the last week or so. This occurred as the US applied geopolitical pressure on nations that persisted in buying Russian oil.
The government has defended New Delhi’s long-standing ties with Moscow, describing it as a ‘time-tested partnership,’ while also reaffirming the strength of the India-US relationship.
“India and Russia share a steady and time-tested partnership,” said Jaiswal, and expressed confidence that bilateral relations with the US would continue to move forward despite current tensions.
On July 30, US President Donald Trump declared a 25 percent tariff on Indian products and cautioned about possible consequences regarding India’s acquisition of Russian weapons and oil. Right after the tariff announcement, Trump issued a scathing critique of New Delhi’s relationship with Moscow, labeling both nations as “dead economies” and straightforwardly asserting that he “does not care” what India chooses to do with Russia.
