Russia Responds to India-US Trade Deal and Oil Purchase Speculations
Following the recent historic trade agreement between India and the United States, Russia has taken a clear and official stance on the matter. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated during a media interaction on Tuesday that there has been no official indication or statement from India regarding a halt or reduction in the purchase of Russian oil.
This response comes in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion made after a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he announced that under the India-U.S. trade deal, India would cease importing Russian crude oil in exchange for a reduction in tariffs (from 25% to 18%). Trump described this move as a step towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Peskov remarked, "So far, we have not received any statement from New Delhi on this issue." He further emphasized that Russia respects the bilateral relations between the U.S. and India but considers its strategic partnership with India to be "the most important" and intends to strengthen it further.
This statement from Russia is significant, especially as there have been speculations in Western media and among analysts that India might sacrifice its cheaper oil imports from Russia to strengthen its trade ties with the U.S. India is the world's second-largest buyer of Russian crude oil, importing approximately 1.5 million barrels daily, which is crucial for energy security and cost management.
The Kremlin's declaration indicates that diplomatic communication between New Delhi and Moscow remains transparent and robust. While India has yet to provide any official confirmation or denial on this matter, Russia has made it clear that the relationship between the two nations will not be swayed by U.S. pressure.