Kremlin says India is free to buy oil from any country, denies Trump’s claim of a shift away from Russian crude, and experts say replacing Russian supply would be difficult
Kremlin Says India Free to Choose Its Oil Suppliers (Source: X/Narendra Modi)
India-Russia Oil Trade: Russia has said that India has the right to buy oil from any country and that its decision to diversify crude oil sources is not something new. The Kremlin made this statement on Wednesday while responding to comments by US President Donald Trump.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia has never been India’s only energy supplier. He said, “India has always purchased these products from other countries. Therefore, we see nothing new here," he told. His remarks show that Moscow views India’s oil buying pattern as normal and not a shift.
Peskov’s comments came after Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to stop purchasing oil from Russia and instead buy crude from the United States and possibly Venezuela. However, Peskov clarified earlier that Russia has not received any official message from India about ending Russian oil imports.
This suggests that Moscow does not see any confirmed change in India’s oil import policy.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry also spoke about the strong energy relationship between the two countries. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the hydrocarbons trade between India and Russia benefits both nations and supports stability in global energy markets. She added that Russia is ready to continue close cooperation with India in the energy sector.
Russian business radio Kommersant FM pointed out that, unlike Trump, Prime Minister Modi has not publicly spoken about any agreement to stop buying Russian oil. This has raised questions about the accuracy of Trump’s statement.
Energy expert Igor Yushkov explained that it would be hard for India to fully replace Russian crude. He said US shale oil is mostly light-grade crude, while Russia supplies heavier, sulphur-rich Urals oil. Mixing these different types would increase refining costs, making a simple replacement unlikely.
Yushkov also said the United States may find it difficult to supply the same volumes that Russia provides, which range between 1.5 to 2 million barrels per day. He suggested Trump’s remarks may have been aimed at showing the talks as a clear US victory.
Yushkov recalled that when Russia shifted exports to India in 2022, global oil prices jumped. This rise pushed fuel prices in the United States to record highs, showing how changes in oil trade can affect the world market.
India imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil. Before 2022, Russian oil made up only a small share of India’s total imports. After Western countries reduced trade with Moscow, Russian oil supplies to India increased sharply. However, imports have slowed recently and dropped to around 1.1 million barrels per day in early January, according to Kpler data.
