Tue Feb 11 18:09:57 UTC 2025: ## US Sanctions on Russian Oil Unlikely to Impact India Trade, Says Russian Official
**New Delhi, India** – A new wave of US sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector is unlikely to significantly affect Russia’s oil exports to India, according to Pavel Sorokin, Russia’s First Deputy Energy Minister. Sorokin dismissed the sanctions as illegal during an interview at the India Energy Week.
The US sanctions, imposed last month, targeted Russian oil producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, along with 183 vessels involved in transporting Russian oil. The aim was to curb Russia’s energy exports and limit its ability to fund the war in Ukraine.
Despite the sanctions and India’s cautious approach to avoid violating them, Sorokin expressed confidence that Russo-Indian energy trade would continue. He emphasized that the relationship is based on economic pragmatism and that energy trade shouldn’t be politicized.
While India’s reliance on Russian oil has decreased from a high of almost 40% of total imports in 2022 to 30-35% recently, Sorokin asserted that Russia has the capacity to meet its contractual obligations and will continue to work with partner countries like India. He acknowledged that it’s too early to fully assess the impact of the latest sanctions but anticipates continued success in their bilateral energy cooperation.
The initial surge in Russian oil imports to India was driven by discounted prices due to the price cap imposed on Russian oil by Western nations and the subsequent reduction in purchases by European countries. However, these discounts have narrowed. Recent reports suggest that the sanctions have already led to some disruption in supply to Indian refiners, pushing them to seek alternative sources, primarily from the Middle East.
Despite these challenges, Sorokin reiterated Russia’s commitment to supplying global energy markets and maintaining its position as a major global energy player. He criticized the sanctions as illegal, detrimental to the global economy, and disruptive to long-term energy projects. He highlighted the negative impact of sanctions on developing economies and the increased cost of capital for the energy industry.
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