By Admin 
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday (October 16, 2025) that Russia is confident that its energy cooperation with India will continue. This statement of Novak has come at a time when US President Donald Trump had claimed a day earlier that India had assured him to stop buying oil from Russia.
Independent news agency ‘Interfax’ quoted Novak as saying, ‘We will continue cooperation with our friendly partners. The demand for our energy resources remains. This is economically viable and practical. Novak said, ‘I am confident that our partners will continue to work with us, negotiate and develop energy cooperation.’
India’s response to Trump’s oil trade claims
Novak has made this comment in response to Trump’s claim, in which the US President had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will stop buying Russian crude oil. The US President claimed that although India will not be able to immediately cut purchases, it will definitely start doing so. Novak said, ‘All we hear in the media today is that our partners are declaring that no one can dictate to them and that they will choose their own path.’
Responding to Trump’s oil trade claims, India on Thursday said it is broadening and diversifying its energy sources to meet market conditions. India emphasized that its import policies will be completely based on national interest.
India increased oil trade from February 2022
India, traditionally dependent on West Asian oil, significantly increased its imports from Russia following the Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Due to Western sanctions and reduced European demand, Russian oil is becoming available at huge discounts.
According to independent news agency ‘Interfax’, Russian crude oil exports in the first seven months of 2025 stood at 87.5 million tonnes or 36.4 percent of India’s total imports. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said that he has ordered the government to take steps to reduce the trade imbalance with India.
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