Let’s start with India itself. India is not an ally of Russia — and certainly not of China. Its interest in Russian oil is primarily about price. Before 2022, India hardly bought any oil from Russia, as it was more convenient to import fuel from the Persian Gulf.But after Western sanctions were imposed, Russia began selling oil at steep discounts, and India started buying it in large volumes — purely for economic reasons. In India, Russian oil is used to produce diesel, which is then widely exported around the world, including to EU countries.A month ago, the European Union adopted its 18th sanctions package, which could partly be described as “anti-India.” Under the new rules, the EU will ban the import of petroleum products made from Russian crude. This is a direct signal to Indian refineries.The measure will take effect on January 21, 2026. Until then, India must decide how to respond.Currently, India is allowed to buy Russian oil as long as it stays within the established price cap (currently $60 per barrel, dropping to $47.60 in September). But the situation is being further complicated by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened “punitive tariffs” over cooperation with Russia and continues to highlight India’s role in financing the war against Ukraine. In other words, the issue of buying Russian oil is no longer just economic — it’s become a global political question. That means continuing oil purchases from Russia could have serious consequences for India’s broader economy.Effectively, the U.S. is presenting India (and China) with a choice: either Russian oil or access to the American market. Or — a third option — keeping both in exchange for a “small favor”: pressuring Putin to end the war.How this will all end, we’ll find out soon enough.SourceAbout the author: Mykola Kniazhytskyi, journalist, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament.The editorial team does not always share the views expressed by the authors of blogs or columns.