Anonymous source informed the Russian state information agency TASS that Doval is to take “several meetings” with officials from Russia on Thursday. According to Indian media reports, the adviser plans to explain the strategy of the new Delhi regarding the import of Russian oil in connection with the signals that Moscow can offer larger discounts.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is also to visit Russia this month.
Trump threatened a “significant” increase in duties on Indian goods after he accused New Delhi of “driving the war machine” by buying a cheaper Russian oil and its sale with “big profit”.
India rejected these threats as “unjustified”.
“Like any large economy, India will take all necessary funds to protect their national interests and economic security,” the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.
India has refrained from applying sanctions to Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine on full scale and are currently the second largest buyer of Russian oil after China.
According to Reuters, in the period from January to June, India bought 1.75 million barrels of Russian oil transported by sea per day, which is highest level among all foreign buyers.
