New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) India on Friday reiterated that its energy decisions are guided by the need to secure ‘affordable energy’ for its 1.4 billion people, in response to a proposed bill in the United States Congress seeking to impose a 500 per cent duty on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil.
Reacting to the proposed legislation, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi is aware of the bill and is closely monitoring developments.
“We are aware of the proposed bill. We are closely focused on the developments,” Jaiswal said at a weekly media briefing. |
Reaffirming India’s long-standing position, he underlined that energy sourcing decisions are driven by energy security considerations and global market realities.
“Our position and approach on the larger question of energy sourcing is well known. In this endeavour, we are guided by the evolving dynamics of the global market and by the imperative to secure affordable energy for our 1.4 billion people through diverse sources to meet the energy security needs,” he said.
The MEA’s response comes days after US Senator Lindsey Graham said President Donald Trump had given a green light to a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, which he said would provide leverage against countries such as India, China and Brazil that continue to buy Russian oil.
According to the US Congress website, the proposed legislation, titled the “Sanctioning of Russia Act of 2025”, includes sweeping penalties, including raising duties on all Russian goods and services imported into the United States to at least 500 per cent, along with sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Moscow.
“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill,” Graham said in a post on X, adding that the move would be “well-timed” amid ongoing peace efforts in Ukraine.
“This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” Graham said, asserting that it would give Washington “tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil.”
Trump has recently linked sanctions and trade policy to Russia’s energy exports, particularly criticising India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Speaking at a House GOP retreat, Trump said tariffs imposed on Indian goods had strained ties, even as he described his personal relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as positive.
“I have a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi,” Trump said, while adding that disagreements over trade and energy had caused friction.
The Trump administration has already imposed tariffs totaling 50 percent on certain Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s energy dealings with Moscow. Trump has also warned that further tariff increases remain possible if U.S. concerns are not addressed.
India has pushed back against claims that New Delhi had committed to halting Russian oil imports, stressing that no such assurance was ever given.
The push for tougher sanctions comes amid renewed diplomatic activity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US officials this week, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to discuss possible diplomatic paths toward ending the conflict.
The proposed sanctions bill now heads toward congressional debate, where lawmakers from both parties are expected to weigh its economic and geopolitical implications
