New Delhi – Government sources rejected allegations made by White House Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro, who claimed that India had provided a financial lifeline to Russia’s war in Ukraine through crude oil purchases.
Officials said Navarro’s remarks, posted on X, reflected an “oversimplified and inaccurate view” of the global oil supply chain. They stressed that India’s imports of Russian crude remain legal, transparent, and compliant with international frameworks, including the G7/EU price-cap mechanism designed to keep Russian oil on the market at discounted rates.
“India has not financed Russia’s war machine. On the contrary, by ensuring oil flows continue and global prices remain stable, India has provided relief to consumers worldwide,” a senior source said, citing comments from US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Ambassador Eric Garcetti acknowledging India’s stabilizing role in energy markets.
Navarro alleged that India used high tariffs to block US exports while buying discounted Russian oil with US dollars. Indian officials countered that refiners purchase crude through third-country traders in currencies such as the AED, not the US dollar, and emphasized that Washington has never formally asked New Delhi to stop importing Russian oil.
India, which imports over 80% of its energy needs, ramped up Russian oil purchases after 2022 to shield domestic consumers from soaring prices. Officials noted that public-sector refiners incurred losses despite discounts and that export restrictions were imposed on private refiners to protect local supply.
“Removing Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, from global markets would have pushed crude above $200 per barrel,” sources warned, adding that India’s actions helped avert a global energy crisis.
