MoscowRussia's Foreign Ministry has stated that it has "no reason" to think that India has altered its stance on buying Russian oil, claiming that such trade is advantageous to both countries and promotes stability in the world market for hydrocarbons.
The comments followed claims by U.S. officials that New Delhi had consented to stop importing Russian crude.
According to Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry, Moscow did not perceive any change in India's position regarding the purchase of Russian hydrocarbons. India's purchases benefit both nations and help maintain stability in the global energy market, she continued.
Zakharova also criticized remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US President Donald Trump, accusing Washington of trying to impose conditions on independent countries.
Following a phone call between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both parties announced lowering US-imposed tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. Trump's August tariff of 25% on India's ongoing purchases of Russian oil was lifted as part of the rollback.
Trump asserted that India had committed to cease importing crude oil from Russia when he announced the trade deal with New Delhi in early February.
India hasn't, however, affirmed or refuted the claim. Rubio reaffirmed last week that India had promised to stop buying Russian oil. In the past, India has insisted that its energy procurement decisions will continue to be driven by the national interest.
Russia had previously claimed that Washington was using coercive tactics like tariffs, sanctions, and direct restrictions in an attempt to prevent India and other nations from purchasing Russian oil.
India is eager to diversify its sources of crude oil: Minister of UnionThe Minister of Commerce and Industry stated on Wednesday that India would welcome the importation of high-quality coking coal from the United States and is seeking to diversify its sources of both crude oil and coking coal.
Goyal stated during a Mumbai event that India is eager to lessen its reliance on a small number of regions for essential raw materials because price swings frequently lead to uncertainty.
Our goal is to diversify our sources of oil. For instance, I would like to diversify the source of coking coal. Prices are constantly changing, and I am reliant on two or three different regions. "I would be thrilled to see high-quality American coking coal arrive in India," he said.
The US can provide a number of items that India urgently needs to maintain economic growth, the minister continued. These consist of high performance computing systems, data center equipment, and graphics processing units for AI applications.
According to Goyal, America can be a powerful partner in terms of technology and capital, while India can produce goods in industries where the US might not be competitive.
He also mentioned the rising demand for aircraft, pointing out that the US has already expressed a desire for aircraft worth USD 100 billion over the next five years. He stated that in order to expand local operations and lower air fares, more capacity would be needed.