India reluctantly cuts Russian oil imports as additional US tariffs take effect

India has become one of Russia’s biggest oil customers since the war in Ukraine began, but pressure from Washington is forcing a careful recalibration. U.S. tariffs on Indian imports have doubled to 50%, and New Delhi is signaling compliance by trimming—but not abandoning—its Russian crude purchases. The cuts are modest, more symbolic than substantial, as Indian refiners still lean heavily on Moscow’s supply. The standoff underscores how trade, energy, and geopolitics remain tightly intertwined in today’s global economy.