New Delhi / Moscow – Russia has offered India a 5% discount on crude oil purchases, even as Washington ramps up pressure on New Delhi with steep tariffs over its continued energy trade with Moscow.

Russia’s deputy trade representative in India, Evgeniy Griva, confirmed that the discount—though subject to negotiation—is standard practice and usually fluctuates around the 5% mark. He noted that India’s overall oil imports from Russia are expected to remain steady despite the political situation.

Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin added that while New Delhi faces a “challenging situation” due to US pressure, Moscow remains confident in the resilience of India-Russia energy cooperation. “We have trust in our ties,” he said.

US Tariffs and Accusations

The offer comes as the Trump administration raised tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, accusing New Delhi of indirectly financing Russia’s war in Ukraine by buying discounted crude and refining it into products for global markets. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India was acting as a “global clearinghouse” for Russian oil, providing Moscow with much-needed revenue.

India has strongly rejected the charges, calling the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” Key export sectors such as textiles, leather, and marine products are expected to be hit hard by the new duties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained that India will not yield to economic pressure.

US Justification

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the tariffs, saying they were designed to apply “secondary pressure” on Russia by targeting countries that continue to buy its oil. “The president has made it clear he wants this war to end,” she said, adding that sanctions on India were part of broader measures to force Moscow to reconsider its campaign in Ukraine.

Both India and China remain the two largest buyers of Russian crude, cushioning Moscow’s economy as Western sanctions bite.

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