Russia-India Oil Row: Kremlin Rebuffs Trump’s Trade Deal Claims

The Kremlin has officially disputed claims that India has agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil, stating on Tuesday that it has received "no communication" from New Delhi regarding a halt in trade. The statement follows an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that India had committed to severing energy ties with Moscow as part of a major new trade agreement with Washington.

The Trump-India Trade Deal On Monday, President Trump announced a significant trade pact with India designed to slash U.S. tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. In exchange, the U.S. administration claimed that New Delhi had agreed to phase out Russian oil imports and reduce various trade barriers. This deal is seen as a strategic move by Washington to further isolate Moscow economically while strengthening ties with a key Indo-Pacific partner.

Moscow’s Response Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Russia is "carefully studying" President Trump’s statements. When asked specifically if India had notified Russia of a decision to stop oil purchases, Peskov responded clearly: "As of now, we have received no contacts from Delhi on this matter."

Peskov emphasized that while Russia respects the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and India, Moscow remains committed to its own "advanced strategic partnership" with New Delhi. "This is what is most important to us, and we intend to continue developing our bilateral relations," Peskov added.

A Crucial Energy Partnership Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, India has emerged as the largest buyer of seaborne Russian crude oil, taking advantage of steep discounts offered by Moscow. This energy bridge has been a point of contention for Western nations, who have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions intended to starve Russia of the revenues needed to fund its military operations.

Whether India will pivot away from its top energy supplier in favor of U.S. trade concessions remains to be seen, as New Delhi has historically maintained a policy of strategic autonomy.