Trump sanctions: India puts energy security first; says buying Russian crude oil irrespective of US waiver

Making its energy security mandate clear, India has said that it is buying crude oil from Russia irrespective of a sanctions waiver by the US. The statement from Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry comes days after a Bloomberg report said that India has sought an extension of sanctions waiver from the US for procuring Russian crude oil.

Addressing a media briefing on Monday, Sharma said India had been sourcing oil from Russia before the waiver period, during it, and continues to do so now as well.

“Regarding (the) American waiver on Russia, I would like to emphasize that we have been purchasing from Russia earlier ... I mean before waiver also, during waiver also, and now also,” she said according to Reuters.

She stressed that India’s oil purchases are guided primarily by commercial considerations and economic viability. Sharma also noted that the country has secured adequate crude supplies and there is no shortage of oil availability.

India had reportedly requested the United States to continue its waiver allowing imports of Russian crude, as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have now persisted for nearly 75 days, putting pressure on global oil supplies.


Washington had initially approved the waiver in March before extending it further, with the current waiver expired on May 16. The exemption was aimed at easing pressure on global energy markets by enabling additional crude availability.

Although Russian oil itself is not subject to blanket sanctions, the Donald Trump administration has consistently encouraged India to scale back purchases of discounted Russian crude as part of broader efforts to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine conflict, according to a Bloomberg report.

India’s purchases of Russian crude have remained elevated. According to Kpler data, Russian oil inflows into India have so far touched a record 2.3 million barrels per day in May, aided by the relaxation covering previously loaded cargoes. Kpler estimates indicate that average imports for the month could still remain around 1.9 million barrels per day.

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