Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reaffirmed Moscow’s opposition to unilateral coercive measures…reports Asian Lite News
Russia has strongly criticised the United States for what it calls “inappropriate and counter-productive” demands that India stop unloading Russian oil tankers, following a US deadline of February 27 for compliance.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reaffirmed Moscow’s opposition to unilateral coercive measures, particularly in the energy sector, and emphasised that India has not officially joined Western-led sanctions against Russia.
“We have noted the recent US demands for India to unload tankers carrying Russian oil by February 27. It is important to emphasise that India has not officially joined the illegitimate restrictive measures that the West initiated,” Zakharova said, as reported by Russian news agency Sputnik.
Highlighting the long-standing diplomatic and economic cooperation between India and Russia, Zakharova described the relationship as “privileged and strategic,” underscoring their partnership in defence, energy, and space exploration.
India has remained neutral in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, maintaining strong trade relations with Moscow despite pressure from Western nations. The latest US demands are seen as an effort to push India to distance itself from Russia, but New Delhi has continued to pursue its independent foreign policy.
This diplomatic tension unfolds as India and Russia aim to deepen economic ties and increase bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030. Both nations are also exploring new connectivity routes, such as the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor, to facilitate trade and commerce.
A January report by Morgan Stanley suggested that US sanctions on Russia’s oil sector would disrupt Moscow’s crude exports, pose supply challenges, and impact India’s imports. The sanctions have targeted two major Russian oil producers—Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz—along with 157 tankers, insurance firms, oilfield service providers, and traders.
Despite these restrictions, India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, reaffirmed that India has “no expectations” of reducing its oil purchases from Russia. Speaking at India Energy Week 2025 on February 11, Puri emphasised that India sources its energy supplies based on cost-effectiveness and availability.
“No, there’s no such expectation. All purchases from whichever source are price-sensitive and price-dependent. I’ve said on many occasions that we float tenders at the point of importation,” Puri stated. “For instance, we float a tender that at a particular point, let’s say one of the ports, we need this quality of crude, and anybody can tender prices.”
Russia’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Pavel Sorokin, also expressed confidence in the strength of the India-Russia trade relationship, calling it a pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnership.
“India is one of our most important strategic partners, and we’re very glad to see that the relationship is developing indeed on a pragmatic basis and a bilateral basis, taking into account mutual benefits and not any political slogans or any politics,” Sorokin said in an interview with ANI on the sidelines of India Energy Week 2025.
India has consistently maintained that it remains open to importing crude oil from all possible sources to meet its growing demand. Over the years, the country has diversified its crude imports from 27 to 40 nations, with Argentina being the latest addition. Major suppliers include the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iraq.
Despite US pressure, India’s energy policy remains guided by economic pragmatism, with officials reiterating that purchasing decisions are driven by market conditions rather than geopolitical considerations. Russia, in turn, continues to view India as a key economic partner, reinforcing its commitment to expanding trade and cooperation in various sectors.
