U.S.-Sanctioned Russian LNG Cargo Heads to India Amid Energy Market Shifts
A cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Portovaya plant, which is under U.S. sanctions, is en route to India. This marks a significant development as it would be the first delivery to India since President Trump stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him India would cease purchasing Russian energy. Despite this, India has not publicly confirmed such a pledge, emphasizing that its energy purchasing decisions are driven by price, supply security, and consumer interests. The Portovaya plant, operational since September 2022, has faced interruptions due to sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict. These sanctions aim to disrupt Russia's LNG production and export capabilities. Prior to these sanctions, Portovaya shipped two cargoes monthly during winter, but since March 2025, it has been sending one cargo per month to Kaliningrad.