Moscow/New Delhi, Aug 21 – Russia has assured that its oil exports to India will remain unaffected despite new sanctions and tariffs announced by the United States and the European Union. Senior Russian officials said Moscow has developed “special mechanisms” to bypass restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, ensuring continued energy cooperation with India.
India is the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian crude after China, with Moscow supplying nearly 40% of New Delhi’s total oil imports. Purchases surged after Western sanctions were imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. is preparing to impose a 25% tariff on Indian exports from August 28 as a punitive measure linked to India’s imports of discounted Russian oil.
Roman Babushkin, Russia’s chargé d’affaires in India, told reporters that such measures would not disrupt energy flows. “This is not the first time external pressure has threatened our trade relations. Each time, we have successfully adapted. We are confident this cooperation will continue,” he said. Deputy trade commissioner Evgeny Griva added that crude oil supplies would remain stable: “There are mechanisms in place to ensure uninterrupted deliveries, though we cannot disclose details.”
Russian officials also confirmed that supplies to the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat—a facility partly owned by Rosneft—remain unaffected by recent EU sanctions. The refinery, India’s second-largest single-site plant with a capacity of 20 million metric tonnes, continues to receive direct shipments of Russian crude.
While acknowledging that tariffs may cause a 5% fluctuation in oil prices, Babushkin said this would be subject to bilateral negotiations. He expressed optimism that India and Russia were on track to achieve their target of $100 billion bilateral trade by 2030, up from a record $68.7 billion in 2024-25. However, he admitted the current trade imbalance—India’s exports to Russia stand at just $4.88 billion—needed correction.
On defence ties, Babushkin reaffirmed Russia’s position as India’s “partner of choice.” He highlighted the joint development of the BrahMos missile and India’s deployment of Russian systems, including the S-400 air defence system and Su-30 combat jets, during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May. He also revealed that Russia is expected to contribute to India’s planned Sudarshan Chakra long-range defence shield, scheduled for completion by 2035.
The comments came as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and to co-chair the Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. The meetings are seen as part of preparations for President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India, with a summit expected to focus on trade, investments, nuclear energy, and defence collaboration.
Putin has spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice in the past two weeks, including after his meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, to update him on developments in Ukraine and broader global diplomacy.
