India Russia Oil Deal: Russia Says India Buys Its Oil for Energy Security, Not to Help Moscow

India Russia Oil Deal: India is buying Russian crude because it needs the oil, not because it wants to support Moscow financially, Russia’s ambassador to India Denis Alipov has said.

Speaking to DD News, Alipov said India’s decision was driven by its own development needs and the welfare of its people. He argued that New Delhi was looking at its energy requirements while choosing where to source crude.

“India is not buying Russian oil to help Moscow,” Alipov said, adding that the country was acting in its own national interest.

His comments come as pressure on countries importing Russian energy continues to build in the West. The United States is considering tougher measures that could allow tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports from major buyers of Russian crude and natural gas.

The proposed legislation is aimed at putting additional pressure on Russia’s economy. Its supporters argue that revenue from energy exports helps Moscow finance its military operations in Ukraine. The measures would also target Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior military officials, state owned banks and energy projects.

Alipov criticised this approach, saying Western countries were relying on pressure and punitive measures instead of offering competitive alternatives to Russian oil.

“If other countries can offer India a better deal than Russia, nobody is stopping them,” he said, arguing that the lack of a better offer was one reason India continued to purchase Russian crude.

He also said Russia was ready to supply India with as much oil as it required. According to Alipov, India had already shown that it could stand firm when protecting its national interests and energy security.

India has repeatedly defended its decision to maintain energy ties with Russia despite criticism from Western countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently made a similar point during his visit to Ukraine, saying that stopping India from buying Russian oil would not by itself bring the war to an end.

Jaishankar said the conflict could only be resolved through talks, diplomacy and direct engagement between the countries involved. He rejected the argument that cutting off purchases of oil, aluminium, minerals, metals or fertilisers would provide a solution to the war.

He also highlighted the challenge of ensuring energy supplies for India’s population of around 1.4 billion people, while stressing that both Indian and Ukrainian concerns should be understood.

Russia has remained India’s largest source of crude oil despite growing pressure from Washington and other Western capitals. However, Indian purchases have eased from the record levels seen in June and July, with imports falling noticeably in August.