Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Russia on Wednesday pushed back against Washington’s assertion that India has agreed to stop buying Russian crude, saying it has “no reason” to believe New Delhi has altered its position on energy imports.
Speaking at her weekly briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said India’s purchase of Russian hydrocarbons “benefits both countries and helps maintain stability in the international energy market”.
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“We have no reason to believe that India has changed its position on buying Russian hydrocarbons,” she said. “There is nothing new in the claims of US President Donald Trump, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have grabbed the right to dictate to independent nations.”
US CLAIMS AND TRADE DEAL CONTEXT
The remarks came after Washington claimed that New Delhi had committed to halt imports of Russian crude. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that India had agreed to stop buying Russian oil.
Earlier in February, while announcing a trade deal with India, US President Donald Trump also claimed that India would no longer procure crude from Russia.
The statements followed a recent phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump. Both sides later announced a reduction in US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent. The rollback included the removal of a 25 per cent tariff that Trump had imposed in August last year over India’s purchase of Russian oil.
INDIA YET TO RESPOND
India has not confirmed or denied Washington’s claim that it has committed to stopping Russian crude imports. New Delhi has maintained that “national interests” will remain the “guiding factor” in its energy procurement decisions.
Russia has previously accused the United States of trying to block India and other nations from buying Russian oil, alleging that Washington was using “coercive” tools such as tariffs, sanctions and direct prohibitions.
Zakharova also turned her criticism towards European allies of Ukraine, saying they were not interested in pursuing a peace settlement.
– Ends
With inputs from PTI
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
