26.06.2026, New Delhi.
With regard to Russian oil, it is important for the Indian government not only to continue purchasing it but also to defend the legitimacy of its position, Rossa Primavera News Agency‘s India Desk notes.
On June 8, Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized that India had significantly increased its purchases of Russian oil following the outbreak of the conflict in the Persian Gulf.
“In February, we imported 1.65 million barrels per day from Russia. Now, this figure has grown to approximately 2-2.5 million,” he said.
With India importing roughly 6 million barrels of oil per day in total, supplies from Russia account for approximately 30–40% of its imports. However, New Delhi wants not only to continue quietly purchasing Russian oil but also to explain the reasoning behind its policy.
On June 11, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that India began actively purchasing Russian oil in 2022 at the request of the US authorities. The minister explained that at that time, the United States specifically asked India to buy Russian oil in order to stabilize the oil market. “Let’s not pretend there’s some great principle involved here. I don’t think making this about sanctimony is really warranted,” the diplomat noted.
These remarks came amid continuing calls for India to stop purchasing Russian oil. By responding in this way, the Indian authorities clearly signaled that they do not intend to comply with those demands, and that they regard their actions as not only economically beneficial but also morally justified.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
