India on Friday said it is closely monitoring developments surrounding a proposed US legislation that seeks to impose punitive tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries purchasing Russian crude oil, amid Washington’s continued pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine war.
Responding to queries at his weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi is aware of the proposed bill and is following the situation closely. “We are aware of the proposed bill. We are closely following the developments,” he said.
India and China are among the largest buyers of Russian crude oil since Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. US Senator Lindsey Graham, the author of the legislation, said earlier this week that President Donald Trump has “green-lighted” the bill, which has been under discussion for several months.
Defending India’s position, Jaiswal reiterated that the country’s energy sourcing decisions are guided by market realities and the need to ensure affordable supplies for its vast population. “Our position on the larger question of energy sourcing is well known,” he said.
Emphasising energy security, the spokesperson added: “In this endeavour, we are guided by the evolving dynamics of the global market and by the imperative to secure affordable energy from diverse sources to meet the energy security needs of our 1.4 billion people.”
Senator Graham has argued that the proposed legislation would provide the US President with significant leverage against countries such as India, China and Brazil. The bill envisages steep tariffs on secondary purchases and reselling of Russian oil, which Graham claims would curb the flow of revenue financing Russia’s war effort.
“This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries that buy cheap Russian oil, fuelling Putin’s war machine,” Graham said in a social media post, adding that it would incentivise major buyers to halt such purchases.
Graham also said earlier this week that Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra informed him about New Delhi reducing its purchases of Russian oil and urged him to convey to President Trump to “relieve the tariff” imposed on India.
The US has consistently urged India to scale down its Russian oil imports, arguing that Moscow is using oil revenues to fund the conflict in Ukraine. India, however, has maintained that its purchases are driven by economic considerations and national interest.
Following Western sanctions and the diversion of Russian supplies at discounted rates, India sharply increased its intake of Russian crude. Russia’s share in India’s total oil imports rose from just 1.7 per cent in 2019–20 to 35.1 per cent in 2024–25, making it the country’s largest oil supplier.
As discussions around the proposed US legislation intensify, New Delhi is expected to continue diplomatic engagement while firmly defending its energy security priorities.
