No Reason to Believe India Has Changed Stance on Purchasing Crude Oil: Russia’s Foreign Ministry
Russia says Indian purchases of its oil support market stability and benefit both countries despite U.S. claims of a halt in imports, with tariffs on Indian goods recently reduced.
- On February 18, 2026, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow sees `no reason` to believe India changed its position, adding purchases benefit both countries and support global hydrocarbons market stability.
- Following public U.S. statements, U.S. officials said last week that New Delhi had committed to halt imports of Russian crude.
- India has neither confirmed nor denied Washington's claim, and New Delhi says `national interests` will guide energy choices while Piyush Goyal said India seeks to diversify crude sources and welcomes U.S. coking coal.
- A phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump led to cutting US tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%, including removing a 25% tariff imposed last year.
- Russia accused Washington of trying to block India and others from buying Russian oil using `coercive` tools, and Zakharova also criticised European allies of the Ukrainian government.
12 Articles
12 Articles
No reason to believe India has changed stance on purchasing crude oil: Russia’s foreign ministry
Russia says it sees no shift in India’s stance on buying Russian oil, calling the trade mutually beneficial. The remarks follow a sharp drop in India’s imports amid US tariffs and claims that New Delhi agreed to curb Russian crude purchases, an assertion India has not confirmed.
'No reason to believe India's stance on Russian oil imports has changed': Moscow rebuts US claims
Russia affirmed that the benefits from its oil trade with India are advantageous to the global markets and that it has no reason to believe that New Delhi has stopped its imports under pressure from the US.
No reason to believe India stopped buying Russian oil : Moscow rebuts US claims
Russia has dismissed US assertions that India agreed to cease purchasing Russian crude oil. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that India's energy imports support mutual benefits and global market stability.
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