Russia said it stood ready to supply as much oil as India needed, the Russian ambassador to Delhi, Denis Alipov, said, and he criticised what he described as pressure tactics by the United States (US) over New Delhi's purchases of Russian crude. The remarks were made to the news agency ANI as ties between Moscow and New Delhi were framed against measures proposed in Washington to curb Russian energy exports.

Washington has already moved to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports accused of fuelling the war in Ukraine, and a Senate bill would permit the imposition of up to 100 per cent tariffs on the top five buyers of Russian crude and natural gas. The measure, which had backing from the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would also grant the President additional authority to apply sanctions and could affect India, China and Turkey.

Alipov warned that energy markets could not cope with the exclusion of Russian oil and said that Moscow intended to keep supplying oil to India and other buyers. He stressed that India would prioritise the needs of its population amid a volatile global energy market and noted statements from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that reflected New Delhi's stance. The envoy suggested that sanctions and tariffs were hindering honest cooperation and limiting options for better deals.

The comments came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, underscoring continuing high-level engagement. The ambassador indicated that Russia remained interested in sustaining energy trade with India and that New Delhi had demonstrated an ability to defend its national interests. Analysts and officials in both capitals will watch developments closely as legislative steps in the US could reshape trade flows and diplomatic calculations.