Russia gives BIG assurance to India amid Middle East War, pledges to meet energy demand

New Delhi: Russia has once again stated that if India faces a shortage of oil and gas supplies, it will meet India's total energy demand. Russia has reiterated this assurance amid the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Iran has also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 50 percent of India's oil tankers pass. Russia has come to India's aid. Russia has previously supported India on numerous occasions. During his visit to New Delhi last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin also assured India of continued energy supplies.

What assurance has Russia given to India?

According to reports, a statement issued by an official of the Russian Federation Embassy stated, "We are ready to meet India's energy needs."

Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov also stated that India has always maintained open oil supplies to India. Russia will continue to meet India's demand despite energy supply disruptions. This statement comes after Qatar Energy suspended the supply of LNG (liquified natural gas) and related materials until March 2.

Qatar's decision came after Iran launched drone attacks on key facilities in Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesayed Industrial City. 

How will Strait of Hormuz closure impact India?

According to the report, New Delhi's concerns about India's energy supply increased when Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran. According to Kpler, 31 percent of the world's crude oil tankers pass through this strait. This means that approximately 13 million barrels of oil pass through this Gulf every day. India is heavily dependent on oil and LNG from West Asia.

What has India said about its petroleum needs?

After the war with Ukraine, India began importing significant quantities of cheap oil from Russia. However, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated on Monday that India has sufficient crude reserves and has adequate stocks of essential fuels, including petrol, diesel, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF).

This will help address short-term supply disruptions during rising tensions in the region. India has ensured both cheap oil and availability for its population. Indian companies are no longer using the Strait of Hormuz for their energy supplies.

What options might India have?

According to a Bloomberg report, the Indian government may consider imposing restrictions on fuel exports to meet its domestic energy needs. The government may also consider requiring industrial users to use other fuels to maintain domestic gas and pipeline supplies.

How much oil has India been importing from Russia?

According to reports, India has been importing large quantities of oil from Russia over the past few years. This oil import increased significantly in 2022, especially after the Russia-Ukraine war. In August 2025, President Donald Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro, claimed on social media that before the Ukraine war, India imported less than 1 percent of its oil from Russia, but now it has increased to 35-40 percent. After the signing of the trade agreement with the United States, India agreed to restrict oil imports from Russia. Previously, US President Donald Trump had imposed a 50 percent tariff on Russian oil imports.

Has India reduced oil imports from Russia?

In February 2026, Trump announced that India would now purchase more oil from Venezuela. Since then, India has significantly reduced its oil imports from Russia. In February alone, oil imports from Russia fell to 1 million barrels per day, nearly half of what they were previously. This was the lowest level in September 2022.