During his recent visit to Moscow, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed concerns surrounding India's energy trade with Russia, particularly in light of increasing scrutiny and tariff pressures from the United States. Jaishankar firmly stated that India is not the largest purchaser of Russian oil, clarifying that China holds that position. He also pointed out that the European Union is the biggest buyer of Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

Jaishankar highlighted that the U.S. has, in the past, encouraged India to help stabilize global energy markets, even if it meant purchasing oil from Russia. He also noted that India's oil imports from the U.S. have increased. According to The Times of India, Donald Trump has been putting pressure on India to cease oil imports from Moscow, claiming that it is fueling Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The External Affairs Minister expressed his perplexity at the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. on India, especially since India is not the largest buyer of Russian energy and has also been increasing its purchase of oil from the U.S.. He stated that India's energy purchases from Russia are driven by "market conditions" and its own energy security needs.

Jaishankar made these remarks during a joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. During his visit, which included the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), Jaishankar addressed the challenges of "tariff and non-tariff trade barriers" affecting India-Russia trade. He advocated for the "early conclusion" of a Free Trade Agreement between India and the countries of the Eurasian region.

Furthermore, Jaishankar raised the issue of the growing trade imbalance between India and Russia, which has widened in recent years, and suggested that it needs to be addressed urgently. Trade between the two countries has increased from $13 billion in 2021 to $68 billion in 2024-25. The bulk of this trade involves Russia's supply of hydrocarbons to India.

In addition to trade and energy matters, Jaishankar also addressed the issue of Indians serving in the Russian army, urging for a speedy resolution of pending cases. He noted that while many have been released, some cases and missing persons are still pending.

Jaishankar's visit to Moscow and his statements reflect India's commitment to its strategic partnership with Russia, while also addressing concerns and challenges arising from the current geopolitical landscape and economic pressures. He emphasized that India's relationship with Russia has been "the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War".