Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:35pm on 18 Feb 2026,Wednesday India Global
Russia has rejected US claims that India agreed to stop buying Russian crude oil. Speaking at a briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow has “no reason to believe” that India has changed its stand. She said India’s purchase of Russian hydrocarbons “benefits both countries and helps maintain stability in the international energy market.” The response came after US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that India would halt imports. India has not confirmed the US statement. New Delhi has said that “national interests” guide its energy decisions. (PC: India Today)
