India on Friday said it was “fully aware” of a proposed bipartisan Russia sanctions bill in the US Congress that could impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries buying Russian oil, and that it was closely monitoring all related developments.
Responding to queries after US President Donald Trump backed the draft legislation, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s approach to energy sourcing remained guided by global market conditions and the need to secure affordable supplies for its population of 1.4 billion.
“We are fully aware of the proposed bill being discussed, and we are carefully monitoring all related issues and developments connected with it,” Jaiswal told reporters.
Also read: ‘India imported Euro 144-bn Russian oil since Ukraine war’
He reiterated that India determines its energy strategy by balancing international market realities with domestic imperatives. “As far as energy sources are concerned, you are well aware of our approach. We take into account the conditions and environment in the global market, while also keeping in mind our imperative of ensuring that energy is made available at affordable prices to our 1.4 billion people,” he said.
Jaiswal’s remarks came a day after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said President Trump had greenlit the Russia sanctions bill, which he claimed would give Washington leverage over countries such as India, China and Brazil that continue to buy discounted Russian oil.
In a post on X, Graham said the legislation would allow the US President to “punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” and expressed hope for a strong bipartisan vote as early as next week.
Follow us
