Bhubaneswar: India is preparing to curtail imports of Russian crude oil in compliance with new US sanctions imposed on two major Moscow-backed producers, according to a Reuters report published Thursday.
The move, which marks a significant shift in India’s energy trade policy, could help remove a key roadblock to the long-pending India–US trade deal, officials familiar with the matter told the agency.
The latest sanctions, targeting Russian oil giants including Rosneft and Lukoil, have prompted Indian refiners to reassess their procurement strategy. Both state-run and private refiners are now reviewing supply chains to ensure compliance with the evolving sanctions framework.
While India has maintained that its energy decisions are guided by national interest and market dynamics, officials said the recalibration aligns with New Delhi’s broader diplomatic balancing act—maintaining energy security while deepening strategic ties with Washington.
The United States has long urged India to reduce dependence on discounted Russian oil, which surged after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The latest policy adjustment could signal a thaw in trade negotiations between the two nations, paving the way for stronger cooperation in technology, energy, and defense sectors.
-OdishaAge
