New Delhi free to buy oil from any country: Moscow on Indias oil trade halt with Russia under US deal
Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently said India is expanding its energy basket to respond to changing global conditions and to ensure long-term energy security for its population.
PTC News Desk: Russia on Wednesday stated that India is free to purchase crude oil from any country it chooses and emphasised that New Delhi’s move to diversify its energy suppliers is neither new nor aimed at Moscow. The remarks followed US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead source crude from the United States and possibly Venezuela under a trade arrangement.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia has never been India’s only energy supplier and dismissed suggestions that a change in sourcing would be unusual. He also noted that Moscow has not received any official communication from India indicating a halt to Russian oil imports and had conveyed a similar position earlier as well.
"We, along with all other international energy experts, are well aware that Russia is not the only supplier of oil and petroleum products to India. India has always purchased these products from other countries. Therefore, we see nothing new here," Peskov said while addressing a presser.
Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently said India is expanding its energy basket to respond to changing global conditions and to ensure long-term energy security for its population.
Backing continued cooperation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the hydrocarbons trade serves both countries.
"India's purchase of Russian hydrocarbons is beneficial for both sides and helps maintain stability in the global energy market. We are ready to continue close cooperation with our Indian partners," she said at a briefing.