India's counter to US ‘waiver’ to buy Russian oil: ‘Never depended on permission from any country’
India will continue purchasing oil from available sources without relying on external permissions, as confirmed by a senior official. This statement follows the US easing sanctions to allow stranded Russian oil sales amid rising global oil prices due to Middle East conflicts.
India has responded to the United States granting a temporary sanctions waiver to the country to purchase oil from Russia. India said it will continue to buy oil from wherever it is available and it does not depend on permission from any country to do so.
"India will buy oil from wherever it is available. Our oil purchases will not be governed by any hollow slogans. India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil," a senior government official told PTI.
According to the official, India's energy procurement decisions are governed by one principle - national interest.
US grants India 30-day sanctions waiver
On Thursday the US temporarily eased economic sanctions against Russia to allow Russian oil stranded at sea to be sold to India.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday announced a 30-day waiver, while describing India as an essential partner.
The waiver removes a friction that was never in anyone's interest to sustain and recognises the stabilising role India's refining and procurement capacity has played in global energy markets.
The US decision came in the wake of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East due to which global oil prices have surged.
Crude soared 8.5 percent on Friday and was up nearly 30 percent for the week after President Donald Trump said only the "unconditional surrender" of Iran would end the Middle East war.
Indian purchase of Russian oil
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent sanctions, India became the largest buyer of crude from Moscow, peaking at nearly 40% of the country's total oil needs.
India-US trade deal
In February, Trump claimed that India had committed to stop buying Russian oil as part of a trade deal and rolled back a 25 percent duty on exports from the country.
However, India has maintained that its energy sourcing is guided by "national interest" and "energy security".
India seeking alternative energy sources
Taking into account the ongoing situation in the Middle East, India is exploring alternative sources to further strengthen its energy security, PTI reported.
Several countries, including Australia and Canada, have reportedly offered additional gas supplies, and India continues to explore alternative sources to further strengthen energy security.
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Bobins loves telling the human side of all stories, from the intersection of geopolitics, international relations, and conflicts around the world. In his nearly one-and-a-half-decade career as a journalist, Bobins has covered South Asia, the Middle East, and North America, from elections to mass protests and conflicts. <br> Bobins has also done extensive reporting on environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability, focusing on solutions and people working to make the planet a better place to live. <br> In 2018, Bobins was awarded by Times Internet for the impact of his story on Delhi tree cuttings. Bobins also loves telling the stories of Indian startups and the journey of their founders. <br> Total Years of Experience: 14 <br> Years of experience at LM: Bobins has been a part of Live Mint since February 2026 <br> Interests: When he is not tracking conflicts, Bobins loves to cook, travel across India, click photos, and watch documentaries on history. Past Experience: Before joining Live Mint, Bobins worked with The Indian Express, where he led the Global Breaking News coverage, Indiatimes, where he led the news team, covering everything trending, ANI, where the focus of his coverage was South Asia, and NBS News. <br> Current Role: Bobins is currently working as an Assistant Editor at Live Mint.