While reacting to US President Donald Trump’s remark, Russian ambassador Denis Alipov said that India’s decisions on oil imports are guided by its “national interests.” Earlier on Wednesday, Trump had said that PM Modi assured him that New Delhi will stop buying oil from Moscow. When asked whether India will continue importing Russian oil, Alipov said, “This is the question for the Indian government. The Indian Government is having in mind the national interest of this country in the first place, and our cooperation in energy is very much in tune with those interests.”His remarks came after India reaffirmed its independent approach to energy sourcing after Trump’s remark on PM Modi. “Russian oil is important for the Indian economy,” Russian ambassador Denis Alipov told reporters. The statement also stressed that Russia would not interfere in India-US relations but underlined the long-standing bilateral ties between Delhi and Moscow.“India-Russia relationship has always been equal, uninterrupted and mutually beneficial, qualities that make its upward trajectory irreversible,” Alipov said.“India and the US are independent in their decisions, and we do not interfere in those issues. Our oil supplies are very beneficial for the Indian economy and the welfare of the Indian people,” he added.

Trump claims India will halt Russian oil imports

Trump, who has repeatedly criticised India for purchasing Russian crude, told reporters at White House on Wednesday (local time) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would stop buying oil from Russia.US has long pushed India to halt these purchases, arguing that discounted Russian oil helps fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

India maintains focus on energy security

India, meanwhile, on Thursday emphasised that its energy policies are guided by national interests and the need to protect consumers amid global volatility.“It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement after Trump’s remark. “Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions,” it added. “Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing,” MEA said. External affairs minister S Jaishankar and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman have previously stressed that India will continue purchasing Russian oil for as long as it remains economically viable, while highlighting what they describe as double standards by Western countries that continue buying Russian gas.