Russia slams US pressure over sanctions threatening oil sales to India
Russia says Russian oil will remain available for sale (photo: Getty Images)
Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said that Russia is ready to supply India with as much oil as it needs to meet its energy needs. At the same time, he criticized plans to tighten sanctions, referring to US plans, Bloomberg reports.
"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," Russian Ambassador Alipov said.
Bloomberg notes that under the US sanctions bill authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, if adopted, US President Donald Trump would be authorized to:
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Impose 100% tariffs on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas (the largest buyers of Russian petroleum products are China, India and Türkiye).
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Impose tariffs on countries that help Russia circumvent energy sanctions.
The sanctions are aimed at further restricting Russian oil exports, which help finance the Kremlin's war against Ukraine. Russian budget revenues largely depend on energy sales.
Russian Ambassador Alipov, in turn, warned that without Russian oil, the market would allegedly face disruptions due to the war between the United States and Iran, as well as problems with transporting energy resources through the Strait of Hormuz.
"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," he concluded.
Graham sanctions
Last month, the US Senate passed the late Lindsey Graham's sanctions bill.
However, it is facing growing opposition in the US House of Representatives and will likely remain blocked at least until the November midterm elections due to concerns that it would expand Trump's authority to impose tariffs and lead to higher oil prices.
