Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday said that US President Donald Trump is the only leader claiming India plans to stop buying oil from Russia, stressing that Moscow’s energy agreements with New Delhi remain secure. Lavrov’s comments follow Trump’s announcement of a trade framework with India, in which he alleged that India agreed not to purchase Russian crude, citing concerns over the war in Ukraine.
“There are no grounds to believe that Russian-Indian agreements are in jeopardy,” Lavrov said, highlighting that India has maintained its status as a longtime, all-weather partner of Russia. The minister accused the US of attempting to control energy supply routes and strategic partnerships globally, including with BRICS nations such as India.
The remarks came shortly after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated that India would maintain diversified sources of crude oil to ensure supply chain stability, with national interests guiding procurement decisions. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India’s energy security remains a top priority and all existing agreements with Russia continue unaffected.
Also Read: 30 Crore Workers Set to Shut Down India Tomorrow – Banks and Transport Face Major Disruptions
Lavrov also criticized the Trump administration’s use of “coercive” measures, including tariffs, sanctions, and direct prohibitions, to influence global trade. He claimed the US is attempting to assert global economic dominance by controlling energy routes across continents, including European pipelines such as Nord Stream and TurkStream, as well as Ukraine’s gas transport network.
The comments follow the recent rollback of a 25% US tariff imposed on India in August 2025 over its Russian oil purchases. The US has stated it will monitor India’s oil imports and may re-impose the tariff if Moscow-Delhi trade resumes directly or indirectly. Lavrov framed such moves as part of a broader Western effort to suppress competitors and maintain dominance over global energy and trade flows.
India has consistently affirmed that its energy procurement strategy is guided by national interest rather than foreign pressure. Both Lavrov’s and Indian officials’ statements underline the continued strategic cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi, despite ongoing attempts by the US to influence global energy policies.
Also Read: Gaganyaan Is India’s Historic Inflection Point, Says Astronaut Shukla