India halts oil purchases from Russia following US pressure

New Delhi/Washington (Web Desk): In response to mounting pressure from the United States and concerns over Western sanctions, India has significantly reduced its oil imports from Russia.

According to a Bloomberg report, India has not placed any new orders for Russian crude oil for the month of December, which is typically finalized by the 10th of each month. India’s five largest oil refineries have refrained from purchasing Russian oil this month. Additionally, the state-owned refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has announced that it will only buy Russian oil from suppliers who are not subject to sanctions.

It is important to note that the United States has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian oil purchases from Russia. Former US President Donald Trump had previously stated that by purchasing Russian oil, India was essentially fueling Russia's "war machine" in Ukraine.

Under US pressure, India had earlier assured Washington that it would reduce its oil purchases from Russia in the future. This move is being viewed as a significant shift in India’s energy policy and its broader international trade relations.