India to Keep Buying Russian Oil Despite Trump’s Penalty Threats

India will continue purchasing oil from Russia despite threats of penalties from U.S. President Trump, two Indian government sources told Reuters. Trump had warned of additional penalties over Russian oil and arms purchases, alongside a new 25% tariff on Indian exports. He also claimed India would stop buying Russian oil, but Indian officials denied any policy shift. “These are long-term oil contracts,” one source said, adding it’s not feasible to halt purchases abruptly. Another official argued that India’s imports of discounted Russian oil have helped stabilize global prices. Unlike Iranian or Venezuelan crude, Russian oil isn’t under direct sanctions, and India is buying it below the EU price cap. Russia remains India’s top oil supplier, accounting for 35% of imports. From January to June, India imported about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil, up 1% from last year. However, some state refiners recently paused purchases due to reduced discounts, not political pressure.