Russia signals readiness to boost oil and LNG supplies as India faces energy stress amid West Asia conflict and rising import dependence
Russia's First Deputy PM Denis Manturov will visit New Delhi for talks with key ministers, focusing on boosting bilateral trade and expanding exports
On the sidelines of Brcis, a separate working visit by Lavrov will take place to meet External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and other Indian officials
Asian nations are increasingly competing for Russian crude oil as an energy crisis mounts amid the month-old war by the US and Israel against Iran, which has choked off roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply. Much of the oil from the mostly shut Strait of Hormuz was headed for Asia, hit hardest by recent energy shocks. Over the weekend, Iran-backed Houthi rebels entered the conflict, further threatening shipping. To shore up global crude oil supplies, the US has temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil shipments already at sea - first for India, then for the rest of the world. Demand is rising in Asia while Russia is raking in billions of dollars. But experts say there is a limit to how much Moscow can boost its exports of crude oil, which is unrefined petroleum needed to make fuels like gasoline and diesel, and it is already exporting at a level close to its previous peak. In addition, Russia's 4-year-old full-scale invasion of Ukraine and recent drone attacks on its energy .
Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global developments of mutual interest, and reviewed the entire gamut of India-Russia relations
India and Russia on Monday explored ways to further expand their already close strategic partnership against the backdrop of the West Asia crisis and its economic fallout. The escalating conflict in West Asia is learnt to have figured prominently in Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko's meetings in New Delhi including with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "Good to meet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko of Russia. Spoke about further advancement of our wide-ranging cooperation. As well as regional and global developments," Jaishankar said on social media. People familiar with the meeting said the crisis in West Asia figured in the discussion. Rudenko also co-chaired India-Russia Foreign Office Consultations along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. "Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and shared perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson .
Delhi and Moscow are deepening their energy cooperation, with both sides agreeing to prepare for Russia to resume direct sales of LNG for the first time since the start of the Ukraine war
Iran's foreign minister mocked Washington's policy reversal after the US granted a short-term waiver allowing Indian refiners to resume imports of Russian crude amid energy market disruption
US Ambassador Sergio Gor said India's ongoing Russian oil purchases are helping stabilise global oil markets amid volatility triggered by the escalating West Asia conflict
There's around 15 million barrels of Russian crude on tankers in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, while vessels carrying another 7 million are idling near Singapore
Move comes months after President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on Indian goods in a bid to pressure Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to abandon energy purchases from Russia
State-run HPCL resumes Russian oil purchases after a three-month gap, booking two discounted cargoes as Moscow's share in India's crude imports shows signs of rising again
Indian refiners, wary of complicating trade talks with Washington, had pared back their purchases of Russian oil in recent weeks, which had forced Moscow to seek buyers in China
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said it has "no reason" to believe that India has changed its position on buying Russian oil, which it said is beneficial for both countries and maintains stability in the global hydrocarbons market. The remarks came in the backdrop of Washington's claim that New Delhi has agreed to stop importing Russian crude oil. "We have no reason to believe that India has changed its position on buying Russian hydrocarbons. India's purchase of Russian hydrocarbons benefits both countries and helps maintain stability in the international energy market," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in her weekly briefing. "There is nothing new in the claims of US President Donald Trump, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have grabbed the right to dictate to independent nations," Zakharova said. Following a recent phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump, both sides announced a ...
Both sources, who were directly involved in the decision-making, sought anonymity because the discussions were confidential
Russia has been cultivating ties with a string of African countries, through efforts including military cooperation, and has strengthened relations with Mali and Burkina Faso
In 2021, 5,000 work permits were approved for Indian nationals but last year, almost 72,000 permits were okayed for Indians
White House said in order that 'India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,' and that import tariffs on all Indian goods may be raised if it resumes purchases
New Delhi has not officially announced plans to halt Russian oil imports
Ivan Fetisov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, said on Saturday that his country is open to ties with any nation willing to cooperate with Russia, and that Moscow and New Delhi share a good relationship based on trust and mutual respect. He was speaking to PTI Videos on the sidelines of the International Business Conclave at Advantage Vidarbha 2026 in Nagpur. Asked about India's growing ties with the US, the diplomat said, "We are open to cooperating with any country that wants to cooperate with Russia. If India wants to cooperate with the US, Kazakhstan or Brazil, it depends only on India. "So, I think we have a really good relationship based on trust and mutual respect. That is important nowadays," he said. To a question about India-Russia relations in the current scenario, he referred to the "enthusiasm" when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year. "I repeat that we have a strong relationship with India. We ha