Russia expects India to maintain its current level of oil imports, even as Washington escalates trade tensions with New Delhi through higher tariffs. Evgeny Griva, Deputy Trade Representative of Russia in India, said India’s imports of Russian crude are likely to remain steady. This is despite growing pressure from the United States.
The assurance comes as the US has imposed 25% tariffs on Indian goods, with a threat to double the levy to 50% by August 27. Such a move would severely impact India’s $85 billion annual exports to the US, making them uncompetitive.
Tariffs Target India’s Oil Trade with Russia
According to Griva, half of the proposed tariff penalty is linked to India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian oil—a trade Washington claims helps finance Russia’s war in Ukraine. India has pushed back, defending its right to source crude from the most economical suppliers, and labelled the US tariffs as “unreasonable.”
Discounted Russian Oil Helps Control Inflation
Russia currently sells oil to India at about a five percent discount, leaving Asia’s third-largest economy with limited alternatives. Griva added that this cost advantage is crucial for India to manage domestic inflation and ensure affordable energy. He projected bilateral trade between the two nations to grow by ten percent annually. This signals stronger economic ties despite Western pressure.
India Shifts from Middle East to Russia Post-Ukraine War
India relied on the Middle East for most of its crude imports. However, the scenario changed dramatically after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the Group of Seven’s $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil. As reported by msn.com, India imports about 1.7 million barrels per day from Russia. This accounts for 37% of its total crude imports as of mid-2025.
