India Denies US Pressure on Russian Oil Imports

India's oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri said at an industry event on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, that India has faced no U.S. pressure to reduce Russian crude imports. Asked whether there had been such pressure, he replied, "I never felt anything." He also said, "Whatever people say or do, ultimately it is anchored in their self-interest." Russian oil made up 0.2% of India's imports before the Ukraine war and later rose on discounts. Ship-tracking data showed Russian imports fell about 14% month over month in September 2026 as Middle Eastern crude imports surged back to pre-war levels. Puri linked the shift to competition from Chinese buyers and more competitive Gulf discounts, saying sourcing follows prices, discounts and availability. He said India is expanding refining capacity for domestic demand and export commitments. Donald Trump waived new U.S. sanctions that could have hit countries like India for importing Russian oil. No left-rated or center-rated coverage is in the record. The two right-rated outlets led with the denial of U.S. pressure; India Today placed the remarks after the sanctions waiver. Sources do not disagree on the minister's words or the cited import figures.