According to India’s envoy to Russia, the nation would keep purchasing oil from wherever it “gets the best deal” in order to safeguard the interests of its 1.4 billion citizens. Days before US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India, which include a 25% fine for purchasing Russian weaponry and oil, are scheduled to take effect, Vinay Kumar made his comments.
In an effort to exert “aggressive economic leverage” on Russia and compel it to halt the war in Ukraine, US Vice-President JD Vance claimed on Sunday that Trump has imposed secondary tariffs on India. Since the start of the war, Delhi has increased its imports of cheap Russian crude, which has soured relations with the US and affected trade deal negotiations.
Delhi disputes the US’s claim that India’s purchases of Russian oil are contributing to the financing of the conflict in Ukraine.
Kumar told Russia’s TASS news agency on Sunday that India’s trade is determined by market forces and that the country’s citizens’ energy security is still its top priority. India’s position that Trump’s secondary tariffs were “unfair, unreasonable, and unjustified” was also reaffirmed by him. Hours after Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar vehemently defended India’s purchase of Russian crude, Kumar made his statement. Russia is one of India’s most significant allies, and the two countries have cordial ties.
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