India faces no pressure on Russian oil purchases, says petroleum minister

India's Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday that the country has not faced any external pressure regarding its purchases of Russian crude oil, rejecting implications that international actors are attempting to influence New Delhi's energy policy.

Speaking at an event in Goa, Puri stated that neither he nor his superiors have experienced any pressure on the matter. He referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's working style, suggesting that the government makes autonomous decisions based on India's national interests without yielding to external coercion.

India has significantly increased crude oil imports from Russia since Western sanctions followed Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as Russian supplies offer competitive pricing compared to other sources. The country has balanced this commercial arrangement with its diplomatic positioning on the global stage.

Puri's comments come as Western nations have occasionally raised concerns about energy trade with Russia, though India has consistently maintained that its energy purchases are driven by economic considerations and national requirements rather than geopolitical alignment.