Haven’t Heard From Delhi: Putin Aide On India Halting Purchase Of Russian Oil

MOSCOW-Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on February 3 said that Moscow has not yet received any communication from New Delhi regarding a refusal to purchase Russian oil.

“We haven’t heard any statements from Delhi on this matter yet,” Russia’s state-run news agency Tass quoted the presidential spokesman as saying during a regular media briefing in Moscow, responding to a question on whether India had refused Russian oil supplies.

Peskov, however, said the Kremlin was closely monitoring statements made by US President Donald Trump, including those related to India and oil.

“We are, of course, closely monitoring all news on this matter,” he said. “We are paying close attention to President Trump’s statements; we are carefully recording and analyzing them.”

“We respect bilateral American-Indian relations,” Peskov added. “We attach no less importance to developing our advanced strategic partnership with India. This is of the utmost importance to us, and we intend to further develop our bilateral relations in every possible way, which is precisely what we are doing,” he was quoted as saying by Tass.

On February 2, the White House announced that the United States would drop the 25 per cent tariff linked to Russian oil purchases as part of India’s agreement to stop buying crude from Russia.

“As part of India’s agreement to cease Russian oil purchases, the 25 per cent Russian oil-related tariff will be dropped,” a White House official said after the two countries had reached a trade deal.

In a detailed post on Truth Social, Trump said the two leaders discussed “many things, including Trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine.” He said that Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and to increase purchases from the United States and, potentially, from Venezuela.

A senior US administration official, speaking on background, said that the additional 25 per cent tariff was directly linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil and would now be removed following New Delhi’s commitment to cease such imports.

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the United States has urged allies and partners to reduce or eliminate purchases of Russian energy, arguing that oil revenues help finance Moscow’s military campaign. (IANS)