‘Perplexed by the logic’: Jaishankar questions US penal tariffs after Moscow talks with Lavrov

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar, following his meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday, said India is “very perplexed at the logic” behind the United States’ claim that punitive tariffs were imposed on India over purchases of Russian oil amid the Ukraine war.

Addressing a joint press briefing with Lavrov, Jaishankar noted that India is neither the largest buyer of Russian crude nor liquefied natural gas. “We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG that is the European Union. We are not the country with the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the south,” he said.

The US has not applied similar measures against China for its Russian oil imports. American officials have argued that India significantly ramped up purchases post-war and has been “profiteering by reselling” Russian crude an assertion cited recently by the US treasury secretary. Jaishankar countered that Washington had, in recent years, encouraged India to help stabilize global energy markets, “including buying oil from Russia,” and pointed out that Indian crude imports from the US have also risen. “Honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument,” he said.

The Jaishankar-Lavrov engagement took place against the backdrop of the US administration under President Donald Trump levying tariffs of up to 50% on Indian exports to the American market as a penalty linked to trade with Russia.

Reiterating the strength of India-Russia ties, Jaishankar described the partnership as “the steadiest of the major relationships” since World War II. He emphasized the importance of “sustaining energy cooperation through trade and investments,” and affirmed that defence and military-technical collaboration remains solid. “Russia supports India’s ‘Make in India’ goals, including joint production and technology transfer,” he said.

On trade, Jaishankar said both sides reaffirmed an ambition to grow bilateral commerce “in a balanced and sustainable manner,” with a focus on boosting Indian exports to Russia. He identified agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and textiles as key sectors to help correct the imbalance.

India is currently the second-largest importer of Russian crude after China, with purchases surging since the conflict in Ukraine began cited by the US as a rationale for its actions. New Delhi maintains that its energy choices are driven by sovereign considerations, including availability, cost, and national interest, and has consistently called for a negotiated end to the war, a position reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.