Saralnama
India will continue purchasing oil from sources offering the best deal to ensure energy security for its 1.4 billion people, said Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar. His statement came ahead of US President Donald Trump's imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25% penalty for buying Russian oil and weapons. The US alleges India's imports of discounted Russian crude help fund Russia's war in Ukraine, a charge India denies. Russian crude accounted for 35-40% of India's oil imports in 2024, up from 3% in 2021. Kumar described the US tariffs as unfair and unjustified, emphasizing that India's trade decisions are market-driven and aimed at national interest. Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also defended the purchases, highlighting India's strategic autonomy and noting that the US has not imposed similar tariffs on China or the EU, which also trade with Russia. India maintains friendly relations with Ukraine and Russia, calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Ukrainian President Zelensky may visit India soon, while Russian President Putin is expected to visit later this year. (Updated 25 Aug 2025, 12:11 IST; source: link)