TBM Report
Russia has clarified that there is no reason to believe India has altered its position regarding the import of Russian crude oil, despite claims from Washington. On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that energy cooperation between the two nations remains mutually beneficial and essential for global market stability.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova refuted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent assertion that India had committed to halting Russian oil imports. “We see no basis to believe India has withdrawn from these purchases,” Zakharova said during a briefing. She criticized the US administration, led by President Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, for attempting to dictate terms to sovereign nations through “coercive measures” like tariffs and sanctions.
The tension follows a phone call between PM Narendra Modi and President Trump, after which US tariffs on Indian goods were slashed from 50% to 18%, including the removal of a 25% penalty specifically tied to Russian oil purchases. While the US views this as a quid pro quo, New Delhi has maintained a strategic silence, reiterating only that “national interest” remains its guiding principle in energy security.
