Russia reacted to stories of India buying Venezuelan oil under a US trade pact, saying New Delhi is free to purchase crude from any nation to guarantee vitality safety.
Printed: February 5, 2026 7:35 AM IST
Russia on Thursday responded publicly for the primary time to stories that India plans to diversify its crude purchases away from Russia within the wake of a brand new trade settlement with the US by saying there may be nothing new about India wanting to purchase oil from a number of nations.
“The purchase of oil from completely different nations by India has been occurring for a few years,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters. “India is free to purchase oil from any provider.”
Peskov’s feedback come after US President Donald Trump mentioned Wednesday evening that India agreed not to purchase Russian crude oil throughout a name with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India would as an alternative purchase Venezuelan crude oil as a part of a “great” new trade take care of the US, Trump mentioned.
‘We Don’t Have Any Notifications From India’
Peskov dismissed any claims that India will cease shopping for Russian oil imports. Russia has not acquired any formal notification from New Delhi that it’ll minimize Russian oil purchases, Peskov mentioned.
“India has been and stays free to purchase oil from any provider,” Peskov added. “We don’t have any notifications from India about stopping purchases of oil from Russia.”
Russia’s International Ministry mentioned Wednesday that the nation’s crude gross sales to India serve “mutually useful targets and contribute to the steadiness of the worldwide vitality market.”
Peskov’s feedback instructed that India may nonetheless purchase oil from Russia regardless of Trump’s announcement earlier within the day.
Trump laid out the broad strokes of the US-India trade deal on Wednesday. Under the settlement, the US will slash tariffs on Indian items from 50% to 18%, whereas India agreed to minimize its purchases of Russian oil.
Trump Tells Modi: Cease Shopping for Russian Oil, Purchase Venezuelan
Trade Minister Piyush Goyal mentioned Thursday that India is transferring forward with plans to diversify its oil imports to make sure the nation’s vitality safety.
“So as to guarantee vitality safety for India, we are going to proceed to diversify,” Goyal mentioned.
Peskov added that Trump’s feedback about India shopping for Venezuelan oil ought to Russia drop out doesn’t change Moscow’s relationship with New Delhi.
India Refiners Doubtless Evaluated Russian Crude Choices This Week
Indian refiners had already reportedly evaluated their choices for Russian crude purchases this week as information of the trade settlement emerged. A ultimate determination on the matter can have to come from the federal government, however Russian crude accounted for roughly 25% of India’s complete crude imports in Could.
Trump’s feedback connecting India’s shopping for of Venezuelan oil with Moscow minimize off additionally adopted calls by US lawmakers for oil sanctions on Venezuela.
Some analysts say it is going to be tough for India to exchange Russian oil with Venezuelan provides. Venezuelan crude oil is comparatively distant from India and would include increased freight and mixing prices, mentioned Hardy Vieux, director of knowledge intelligence at Guidehouse Insights.
India Nonetheless Importing Russian Crude Oil
India has not confirmed publicly that it signed a deal to cease shopping for Russian crude oil. Regardless of Trump’s declare that the nation agreed to finish imports of Russian oil, India imported Russian crude all through Could. Whereas Indian officers have emphasised the nation’s want to diversify crude suppliers, it’s nonetheless unclear if India is pivoting away from Russia or simply briefly suspending purchases.
Indian imports of Russian crude have soared since sanctions have been imposed on Tehran final 12 months after the collapse of a deal between Iran and world powers. Regardless of its strikes away from Iranian crude, Moscow has remained India’s largest oil provider over the previous 12 months. India imported 18.6 million barrels of Russian crude in Could, surpassing Saudi Arabia as India’s high provider that month, in accordance to Vortexa.
Peskov mentioned India has purchased Russian oil for many years, and there’s no purpose why it will cease now.
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