Russia on Monday openly accused the United States of attempting to block India and other partner countries from purchasing Russian oil, alleging that sanctions, tariffs and indirect pressure are being used to force buyers towards costlier American energy exports. The charge was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who claimed that Washington was seeking to deny countries access to what he described as &ldquo;cheap and affordable&rdquo; Russian energy.
Within hours, New Delhi responded firmly but cautiously. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri underlined that India&rsquo;s energy decisions are guided solely by national interest, stressing that availability, affordability and reliability of supply remain the core principles of India&rsquo;s policy. He reiterated that as a net importer, and a developing economy with 1.4 billion people, India cannot afford energy shocks that fuel inflation and hurt consumers.
The exchange came amid reports of a possible recalibration in India&rsquo;s Russian oil imports following the finalisation of a broader trade understanding with the United States and claims by President Donald Trump that India had stopped buying Russian oil and gas.
Lavrov&rsquo;s Allegation and Moscow&rsquo;s Anxiety
Lavrov&rsquo;s remarks were unusually blunt. He alleged that the US was waging an economic campaign to squeeze Russian energy out of global markets while pushing its own liquefied natural gas at higher prices. From Moscow&rsquo;s perspective, India&rsquo;s growing caution is not just a commercial adjustment but part of a larger geopolitical squeeze.
For Russia, the concern is real. Since Europe sharply cut Russian oil and gas purchases, India emerged as one of Moscow&rsquo;s most important customers, offering both volume and legitimacy in global markets.
MEA&rsquo;s Stand: National Interest First
India&rsquo;s response avoided confrontation. Misri did not deny market changes, but framed energy sourcing as a constantly evolving calculation driven by price, supply stability and logistics. The message was clear: India will buy where the deal works, not where political expectations point.
This position is consistent with India&rsquo;s long-held stance that energy security cannot be hostage to global rivalries, particularly when domestic inflation and growth are at stake.
How Russia Became India&rsquo;s Top Supplier
Before 2022, Russian oil made up less than 2 per cent of India&rsquo;s crude imports. After sanctions reshaped global trade, that figure surged dramatically. Between 2022 and 2024, Russia supplied roughly 35&ndash;40 per cent of India&rsquo;s crude oil, at times touching 1.8 million barrels per day.
Discounts were the key driver. Indian refiners reportedly saved billions of dollars as Russian crude traded well below global benchmarks, cushioning fuel prices at home during a period of global volatility.
If India Cuts Back, What Happens to Russia?
Energy revenues account for roughly a third of Russia&rsquo;s federal budget. With Europe largely closed off, India has been a critical outlet. A sustained reduction in Indian purchases would not cripple Russia, but it would narrow Moscow&rsquo;s options and increase its dependence on China, which already commands strong bargaining power.
Even a partial cut could shave several billion dollars off Russia&rsquo;s annual export earnings, adding pressure to an economy already operating under sanctions.
Cheap Fuel Versus Strategic Balance
The dilemma for India mirrors a high-stakes India&ndash;Pakistan contest, where skill alone does not decide the outcome; context, pressure and external noise matter just as much. Cheap Russian oil served India well when inflation was the biggest threat. Today, sanctions risk, shipping complications and diplomatic calculations are weighing heavier.
US LNG and Middle Eastern oil are more expensive, but come with fewer political tripwires.
The Road Ahead
India is unlikely to abruptly abandon Russian energy. A calibrated reduction, rather than a clean break, appears the most probable path. This keeps prices competitive while signalling strategic flexibility to Washington.
For Russia, the message is sobering but not terminal. India remains a partner, just no longer an assured one. For New Delhi, &ldquo;national interest&rdquo; continues to mean room to manoeuvre &nbsp;even if that means rewriting the playbook mid-match.

MEA says energy choices driven by price and supply, Moscow sees US pushback

Lavrov Flags Pressure as India Defends Oil Policy

MEA says energy choices driven by price and supply, Moscow sees US pushback

February 10, 2026 | 15:18 IST