India Pushes Back Against US Moves on Russian Oil Imports (1)

India rebutted mounting US pressure to end crude imports from Russia, with Oil Minister Hardeep Puri arguing that the flows had helped to shield the global economy from a price spike, while also directly challenging blunt language used by White House adviser Peter Navarro.

“India’s adherence to all international norms prevented a catastrophic $200 per barrel shock,” Puri said in a column in The Hindu newspaper on Monday. “Some critics allege that India has become a ‘laundromat’ for Russian oil. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Oil traders are focused on New Delhi’s buying after Washington ...