US Plays Down India's Concerns Over Russia Sanctions Act, Says 'No Hard Feelings'

The United States has sought to ease concerns following India’s warning that the new Russia sanctions legislation could affect bilateral ties, with a senior US State Department official saying there were “no hard feelings” over New Delhi’s response. The remarks came amid growing discussion between Washington and New Delhi over India’s continued purchases of Russian crude and the potential impact of the new US sanctions framework.

India has raised concerns that measures targeting countries doing significant business with Russia could have wider consequences for its economy and energy security. New Delhi has maintained that its energy policy is guided by national requirements and the need to ensure reliable supplies. The US legislation gives the American administration additional powers to impose trade-related penalties on countries considered to be supporting Russia through major energy purchases. The measures have attracted particular attention in India because Russian crude has remained an important part of the country’s oil import mix.

The State Department official indicated that Washington understood why India had responded strongly to the legislation. The official also pointed to provisions that provide the US president with authority to grant national-security waivers in certain circumstances. The issue has also featured in discussions between senior officials from the two countries. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the sanctions legislation during their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

India has argued that any disruption to its access to energy supplies could have implications beyond the country, particularly for global oil markets. The government has also stressed the importance of maintaining energy affordability while navigating international geopolitical pressures. The sanctions policy is linked to efforts to increase pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. For New Delhi, the issue involves balancing its strategic relationship with the US while continuing to protect its energy interests.

The latest US comments suggest that, despite differences over Russia-related sanctions and energy purchases, both sides are seeking to prevent the disagreement from affecting the broader India-US relationship. The two countries continue to engage across areas including defence, technology, trade and strategic cooperation, while the implementation of the new sanctions framework remains an important issue to watch in the coming months.