‘India Buys Oil For Itself, Not To Help Moscow’: Russian Envoy Amid Sanctions Pressure

New Delhi buys Russian crude oil to meet its own energy requirements and support national development, not to help Moscow to fund Ukraine war, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov has said, as Western pressure over India’s purchases continues to grow.

While speaking to DD News, Alipov said that India’s decision to purchase Russian oil was based on its own interests. “India does not buy Russian oil for the sake of helping Russia. It is buying oil for itself and its own national development,” he said.

Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov : India does not buy Russian oil for the sake of helping Russia. It is buying oil for itself and its own national development, pic.twitter.com/vV7X26ITY8

— Siddhant Mishra (@siddhantvm) September 5, 2026

His remarks

came amid intensifying Western regulatory scrutiny and secondary sanctions risks against countries and companies that continue to deal with major Russian energy suppliers.

In an interview with ANI, the Russian envoy, meanwhile highlighted that Moscow remained committed to meeting India’s energy needs and was ready to supply as much oil as New Delhi required.

He called the secondary sanctions and tariffs targeting Russian oil trade punitive “pressure tactics” undertaken by Western coalitions and pointed out that it is in disregard of constructive global engagement.

“We would be ready to supply as much oil as India needs. Unfortunately, those who impose sanctions and tariffs have taken the path of pressure tactics instead of honest cooperation, which prevents those countries from offering a better deal to India in oil than us,” he said.

He also defended India’s independent foreign policy, saying New Delhi had demonstrated its ability to protect its national interests despite external pressure.

“The question is — how confident is India? India has shown that it’s able to stand its ground and defend its national interests. And when we speak about the sanctions pertaining to oil trade, the tariffs are also related to the cooperation between Russia and India in oil supplies. These interests are paramount for India,” Alipov said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On being asked how confident Moscow is about the India-Russia energy cooperation, Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, says, “The question is – how confident is India? India has shown that it’s able to stand its ground and defend its national interests. And… pic.twitter.com/gOZ3HFA4TR

— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2026

The Russian envoy also argued that Russian crude would remain an important part of global energy markets, warning that the world could not easily cope with its exclusion.

“The world will not cope if Russian oil is excluded. The energy markets cannot afford that. Russian oil will stay in the market for India and other countries. We are interested in supplying oil to India. India is interested in buying that oil…,” Alipov added.

India has consistently maintained that its crude oil purchases are guided by national interest, energy security, affordability and the need to meet the requirements of its 1.4 billion people.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his recent visit to Kyiv, said the Russia-Ukraine conflict could not be resolved simply by pressuring countries over their purchases of Russian oil, metals, minerals or fertilisers.

“You know, this conflict… will not be solved because somebody is buying or not buying oil or alumina or minerals or metals or fertiliser,” Jaishankar said, adding, “This conflict will be solved by dialogue, by diplomacy, and by negotiation. And that is why it is something we would encourage.”

The Ministry of External Affairs subsequently reiterated that India’s energy sourcing policy would continue to be guided by national interest and the country’s energy requirements.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s sourcing decisions were based on the need to provide for its population and maintain energy security.

“On energy imports, our sourcing – you are well aware of what guides it. Our national interest guides our energy purchases, and the imperative for us to meet the energy requirements of 1.4 billion people is what guides us, and that will continue to be our policy,” Jaiswal said.