Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the United States of attempting to undermine Moscow's ties with India, specifically targeting energy cooperation between the two nations. In an interview with TV BRICS, Lavrov stated that the U.S. is using "unfair methods" such as sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions to control Russia's trade and military relationships with key partners like India. He argued that Washington's policies are coercive and aimed at achieving global economic domination by pressuring countries to abandon Russian energy resources in favor of more expensive American supplies.
Lavrov claimed the U.S. is deliberately creating "artificial obstacles" to hinder global trade and control energy markets. He criticized the U.S. for imposing new sanctions and waging a "war" against tankers in the open sea, violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. According to Lavrov, the U.S. is trying to ban India and other partners from buying affordable Russian energy, forcing them to purchase U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) at exorbitant prices, a practice already in place in Europe.
These statements come amid speculation about India's future oil purchases from Russia, particularly after recent developments in U.S.-India trade relations. India's continued import of discounted Russian crude has been a sensitive issue in its relationship with the U.S., with some American officials alleging that these imports help finance Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. However, India has maintained its energy policy is guided by national interest, focusing on adequate availability, fair pricing, and reliability of supply.
On Monday, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated that India's energy decisions would continue to be guided by national interest. He emphasized the country's priorities were "adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply". India has neither confirmed nor denied reports that it plans to reduce or halt imports of Russian crude after the United States rolled back a 25 per cent tariff.
Lavrov emphasized Russia's openness to cooperation with all countries, including the U.S., and noted that countries like India, China, Indonesia, and Brazil share this approach. He pointed out that the U.S. is creating artificial barriers that complicate global trade.
Lavrov's comments also referenced a proposal regarding Ukraine that the U.S. presented during talks in Anchorage in August 2025, which Russia was initially ready to implement. However, he stated that the U.S. is no longer willing to follow through and continues its policy of containment and pressure on Russia. He expressed disappointment that constructive talks were followed by new sanctions on Russian oil companies and accused the U.S. of seeking economic dominance.
Despite these challenges, Lavrov affirmed that the India-Russia economic partnership is not under threat and described it as a "particularly privileged strategic partnership". He stressed that only Russia and India should determine the conditions of their oil trade, a stance reflecting national interest, pride, and honor. He also highlighted ongoing cooperation in trade, defense, finance, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and multilateral platforms like BRICS and SCO.