While announcing the US-India trade deal, US President Donald Trump had claimed that India will now stop buying oil from Russia. The reply of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has come out regarding this. The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday (February 7, 2026) reiterated its old stand regarding the purchase of Russian oil. MEA said that India’s energy security remains the top priority of the government.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, ‘Diversifying India’s energy sources is the fundamental basis of our strategy. As far as India’s energy sources are concerned, the government has publicly stated on several occasions that ensuring energy security of 140 crore Indians is the government’s top priority.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, ‘Diversification of energy sources in line with market conditions and the changing international scenario is the mainstay of our strategy. All decisions of India have been taken from this perspective and will be taken in future also.

India again made its stand clear on Russian oil purchase

Actually, America wants India to completely stop buying oil from Russia. In this matter, India made it clear that the country’s energy needs are above any other consideration. This has been India’s consistent stance regarding the purchase of crude oil from Russia. America alleges that Russia uses the money it gets from oil for the Ukraine war. However, Russia has been vehemently denying this allegation.

MEA issued statement after White House’s claim

This statement of the Ministry of External Affairs comes after the White House’s claim that India has committed to stop purchasing oil from Russia directly or through any third country and buy oil from America. This statement was given by America at a time when it had announced the removal of 25 percent additional tariff as a penalty on India for purchasing Russian oil.

What did the Kremlin say about the ban on India’s purchase of Russian oil?

When the Kremlin was asked a question about this, it said that India is free to buy oil from wherever it wants. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is well aware that it is not the only country supplying oil and petroleum products to India. He said that India has always been buying these products from other countries. Therefore we do not find anything new in this.

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America’s Finance Minister Scott Besant has given a big statement regarding reducing the 50 percent tariff imposed on India by President Donald Trump. The Finance Minister has indicated that the US administration led by President Trump may consider withdrawing half of the 50 percent tariff imposed on India. He attributed this to the sharp decline in India’s purchase of crude oil from Russia in the last few months.

Conditions are ripe for relaxation in 25% tariff on India: Besant

In an interview to American news outlet Politico, Finance Minister Scott Besant said India’s move to reduce Russian oil imports has created favorable conditions for relaxing at least 25 percent of the tariffs imposed on Indian salmon.

He said, ‘America had imposed tariffs on India in two phases, where the first 25 percent tariff was imposed on the alleged trade imbalance between the two countries. At the same time, America had imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on India as a punishment for continuing the purchase of crude oil from Russia. This step was taken at a time when Washington was trying to increase economic pressure on Moscow.

What did the Finance Minister say on India’s oil purchase from Russia?

Finance Minister Scott Besant told Politico, ‘Our 25 percent tariff imposed on India has been very successful. India’s purchase of Russian oil has almost ended. Although the tariffs are still in place, I think there may now be a way to remove them.

Scott Besant speaks on EU’s trade deal with India

He also claimed that the European Union (EU) did not impose tariffs on India because it wanted to make a big trade deal with New Delhi. Along with this, he criticized Europe and said that it is purchasing refined energy products from India, which he termed as stupidity.

India stopped taking oil from Russia: Besant

US Finance Minister Besant, while talking to Fox News during the World Economic Forum meeting held in Davos, Switzerland last week, said that India, the world’s third largest oil importer, has significantly reduced the purchase of oil from Russia.

He claimed that after the conflict started, India started buying crude oil from Russia, but President Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on it. After this, India gradually reduced its purchases and now it has stopped buying oil from Russia.

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Now Tank Global Trade Research Initiative has issued a statement regarding the trade deal between America and India, asking America to remove 25% additional tariff on Indian goods. Because of this, India has reduced the limit of purchasing oil from Russia. Nearly two-thirds of the cuts have been made by India this month.
what gtri said
According to the information, GTIR said, ‘India has reduced the import of crude oil from Russia. Therefore, any additional tariff now makes no sense.

Let us tell you, America had imposed 25% tariff on India because India was buying crude oil from Russia. Earlier, US President Donald Trump had admitted that India’s oil purchases from Russia have decreased significantly.

Here, GTRI has clearly said that Trump should now remove the additional 25% tariff without any delay. GIRI has not justified this duty for Indian exporters. It has also been said that maintaining this duty may harm the trade deal between the two countries. both countries

Trust will increase in both countries
GTRI believes that if the duty is refunded on time, it will keep Trump’s commitment. India will also get good results from this. Besides, the relations between the two countries will also get strengthened. Also, removal of additional duties will restore parity with economies like China.

Here, since September, the import of American petroleum crude oil has increased by 66.9% to 5.7 billion dollars. This is an increase of 36.3% in the total petroleum and production exports from America. Here, America’s concern that Indian refinery companies were buying oil from Russia and sending it to America will end.