India with Russian oil imports continue despite growing U.S. pressure, government sources told Reuters on Friday. This comes after President Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian crude unless Moscow reaches a peace deal with Ukraine.
“These are long-term oil contracts,” one official said anonymously. “It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight.”
Trump About Russian Oil Imports Continue
Trump had posted on Truth Social last month that India may face penalties for continued purchases of Russian arms and oil. More recently, he claimed that India would soon stop buying Russian oil, something Indian officials have firmly denied.
Two unnamed senior Indian officials told The New York Times that no instructions had been given to oil companies to cut back imports from Russia.
Indian Foreign Ministry
India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, also clarified that India evaluates its energy needs based on market conditions, pricing, and strategic interests. “Our relationship with Russia is steady and time-tested,” he said, adding that India’s ties with any country should not be judged through the lens of a third nation.
Although state-run refiners have reportedly paused Russian oil purchases in recent weeks, due to shrinking discounts—no formal policy change has been made. The pullback is linked to tighter Russian supply and higher global demand, which has made Russian crude less competitive.
Indian Oil Refineries
The country’s largest state refiners, Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemicals, have not sought new Russian cargoes in the past week, according to four Reuters sources.
Despite this, Russia remains India’s top oil supplier, accounting for around 35% of total imports in the first half of 2025. That translates to about 1.75 million barrels per day, a slight increase from last year.
Meanwhile, Nayara Energy, a private refiner that buys large volumes of Russian crude, has come under EU sanctions due to its ownership ties to Rosneft, a Russian oil giant. Last month, Nayara’s CEO resigned, and Sergey Denisov, a long-time executive, was appointed in his place. As of late July, three of Nayara’s vessels carrying oil products remained undelivered due to the sanctions.
What’s Next
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, continues to walk a tightrope between securing affordable energy and managing geopolitical fallout, especially with Washington.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August. 2nd, 2025
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