Archive · 9 Aug 2026
India unlikely to curb Russian oil purchases despite US sanctions
India is a big country that needs lots of oil to power its cars, planes, and factories.
It buys a lot of that oil from Russia because the two countries have been friends for a very long time.
The United States is unhappy about this and wants to make it harder for countries to buy Russian oil.
So the US Senate passed a new law that could let the president put very heavy taxes on countries that buy Russian oil.
These taxes could make Russian oil much more expensive for India.
But India says it will keep buying Russian oil anyway because it needs the energy to keep the country running.
In July 2026, India bought more Russian oil in one month than ever before, a record amount.
The new law is not finished yet, because it still needs to be approved by another part of the US government called the House of Representatives.
India and the US still trade with each other a lot, and some people in the US worry that big taxes on India would make things more expensive for American shoppers.
India is unlikely to reduce its crude oil purchases from Russia, its largest oil supplier, despite fresh US pressure.
The US Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which would authorize tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports from top buyers of Russian oil and gas.
India imported a record 2.78 million barrels per day of Russian crude in July 2026, more than half of its total crude imports of 4.96 million barrels per day.
The sanctions bill still needs approval from the US House of Representatives, and any tariffs would not be applied automatically.
The US imposed 25 percent duties on Indian imports on August 27, 2025, but dropped them on February 7, 2026, after India and the US announced a framework interim trade deal.
- Who
- India and the United States, involving the US Senate, President Donald Trump, and India's government.
- What
- The US Senate passed a sanctions bill authorizing tariffs of up to 100 percent on top buyers of Russian oil and gas, while India signaled it will not curb its record Russian crude purchases.
- When
- The Senate passed the bill in 2026; India's record imports were recorded in July 2026; the article was published on August 9, 2026.
- Where
- India and the United States.
- Why
- Washington wants to pressure buyers of Russian energy, while New Delhi prioritizes its energy security and entrenched defense and strategic ties with Russia.
Washington's Pressure
New Delhi's Stance
Curbing Russian oil purchases
Washington's Pressure
The US Senate wants to pressure top buyers like India to reduce purchases of Russian oil and gas through tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports.
New Delhi's Stance
India will not let external pressure dictate its energy security and cannot give up its deeply entrenched defense and energy relationship with Russia.
Economic impact of tariffs
Washington's Pressure
Sanctions and tariffs are the necessary tool to deter countries from financially supporting Russia through oil purchases.
New Delhi's Stance
Many voices in the US argue duties on China and India would further raise domestic American prices, and India has boosted US energy imports and is negotiating a bilateral trade deal.
- Record Russian crude imports (July 2026)
- 2.78 million barrels per day
- India's total crude imports (July 2026)
- 4.96 million barrels per day
- Sanctions bill
- Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026
- Maximum tariff authorized
- 100 percent
- Earlier US tariff on Indian imports
- 25 percent, imposed August 27, 2025
- US tariff removal
- February 7, 2026
- Russian crude shipments to India in FY26
- $40.82 billion (about 30% of India's crude purchases)
- India's rank among Russian oil buyers
- Second largest, after China