Russian ambassador says US using sanctions as pretext to pressure India

Russian ambassador Denis Alipov has said that sanctions imposed on Russia are being used by the United States as a pretext to put pressure on India, according to TASS.

Alipov noted that Russia is currently subject to more than 30,000 sanctions from Western governments, a figure he cited in characterizing the scale of restrictions Moscow has faced since the escalation of its war in Ukraine. According to TASS, the ambassador's remarks framed U.S. pressure on India as connected to that broader sanctions regime rather than being a separate, independent policy matter.

The comments come against the backdrop of ongoing tension between Washington and New Delhi over India's continued economic and energy ties with Russia, including its purchases of Russian oil, which the United States has criticized and sought to discourage through tariff and trade measures.

Russia has consistently argued that Western sanctions are used as tools of broader geopolitical leverage rather than being narrowly targeted at specific conduct, a position Alipov's comments reflect. The scale of sanctions cited by the ambassador reflects measures imposed by a range of governments and institutions since 2022, covering sectors from finance and energy to individuals and state entities.

The remarks add to a broader diplomatic exchange between Moscow, Washington and New Delhi over how India's relationship with Russia should factor into U.S. trade and foreign policy.