US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Saturday said Washington has secured a commitment from India to stop buying additional Russian oil, even as the United States continues to tighten sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine war.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Rubio said the US was pressing ahead with sanctions and diplomatic efforts while testing whether Russia was serious about ending the conflict.
“In our conversations with India, we’ve gotten their commitment to stop buying additional Russian oil,” he said, outlining steps being taken alongside Europe to sustain pressure on Moscow.
Sanctions continue as talks tested
Responding to a question about whether Russia was “playing for time” in negotiations over Ukraine, Rubio admitted uncertainty over Moscow’s intent.
“We don’t know the Russians are serious about ending the war; they say they are – and under what terms they were willing to do it and whether we can find terms that are acceptable to Ukraine that Russia will always agree to,” he said.
However, he stressed that Western measures were continuing in parallel. “The United States has imposed additional sanctions on Russia’s oil… Europe has taken its set of steps moving forward… Nothing has stopped in the interim. So there’s no buying of time here in that regard,” Rubio added.
Also read| Russia-Ukraine war: Marco Rubio questions Moscow's intent to end conflict ahead of Geneva talks; seeks stronger Europe tiesHe said Washington would continue trying to secure “a negotiated settlement… so long as the conditions are just and sustainable”.
India reiterates strategic autonomy
Rubio’s remarks come amid ongoing debate over India’s energy ties with Russia.
At the same conference, external affairs minister S Jaishankar underlined that India remains committed to “strategic autonomy”.
“We are very much wedded to strategic autonomy because it's very much a part of our history and our evolution,” Jaishankar said when asked whether a trade understanding with the US would affect India’s oil imports from Russia.
On energy sourcing, he described the global oil market as “complex and dynamic”, adding that oil companies make decisions based on “availability, costs, risks and take the decisions that they feel are in their best interest”.
“If the bottom line of your question is, would I remain independent-minded and make my decisions? … yes, it can happen,” he said, according to news agency ANI.
‘National interest’ to guide decisions
Earlier this month, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said “national interest” would continue to guide India’s energy-related decisions. He emphasised that procurement choices are made by oil companies after assessing market conditions, risks, logistics and costs.
“The key drivers of our energy policy are adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply,” Misri said, noting that India imports crude from dozens of countries and does not depend on a single source.
He added that safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers remains a priority, particularly as India is a net importer of oil and gas.
Moscow disputes claim
Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday had questioned claims that India has agreed to stop buying Russian crude.
Lavrov said only US President Donald Trump had made such an assertion. “Except for US President Donald Trump, nobody else has declared that India will stop buying Russian oil,” Lavrov told lawmakers in Moscow.
Also read| 'Except Trump, no one said India will stop buying Russian oil': Moscow rejects US claimHe added that he had not heard any such confirmation from Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Lavrov also accused Washington of using “coercive” measures such as sanctions and tariffs to discourage countries from purchasing Russian energy.
Energy security remains central
Indian officials have consistently maintained that energy security for 1.4 billion people is paramount.
While Russian oil imports have moderated from their peak levels, New Delhi has not formally announced any decision to halt purchases entirely.
Rubio’s statement in Munich therefore adds a new dimension to the ongoing diplomatic and economic balancing act, as the US intensifies sanctions on Moscow while India continues to stress independent decision-making guided by national interest.