Russia is ready to supply India with as much oil as it needs to meet its energy requirements, the Kremlin’s envoy to New Delhi said, while denouncing plans
to intensify sanctions on Moscow’s oil sales as "pressure tactics". Under a US sanctions bill authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, a stalwart Ukraine supporter, President Donald Trump would have authority to levy 100% tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian crude and natural gas, as well as the top five countries aiding Russia in evading energy sanctions. “We would be ready to supply as much oil as India needs,” Russia’s Ambassador Denis Alipov told ANI in an interview. "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 stated. Russia remained the largest supplier of crude to India in August while the US supplied highest volumes of LPG and LNG according to data from maritime intelligence and research firm Kpler. As per the data released, India purchased 2.1 million barrels of crude per day from Russia in August, accounting for 45 percent of its total oil imports. The figure, however, was less than from 2.8 million barrels in July, which was the highest ever. As per the study conducted, other top suppliers included the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. India's overall crude imports also declined in August compared with May, June and July, when refiners ramped up purchases to guard against any shortfall in a scenario of the conflict in West Asia escalating. Crude supplies in August were estimated at 4.6 million barrels per day, nearly 8% lower than the over 5 million barrels per day imported in July. Interestingly, after Russia's oil-refining infrastructure was damaged from repeated Ukrainian drone strikes Moscow has been importing gasoline or petrol from India. India is estimated to have dispatched over 1 million barrels over June and July, ship tracking data indicates. According to experts, this is the first instance of Russia importing petrol from India. India, which has emerged as a major exporter of refined petroleum products, is supplying petrol to help bridge the gap.
