India’s Russian oil strategy is facing a fresh challenge from Washington after the US House of Representatives passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that gives President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100&#37 on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The legislation, which had already cleared the Senate, now goes to Trump for his consideration and signature. India and China are at the centre of the issue because of their significant purchases of Russian crude. For India, the stakes are particularly high. Russian crude accounted for 30.3&#37 of India’s total crude imports in FY2026, with purchases valued at around $40.8 billion, according to figures cited by the Global Trade Research Initiative. The new US legislation does not automatically impose a 100&#37 tariff on India. Instead, it gives the US president the authority to impose additional tariffs of up to 100&#37 on countries that fall within the legislation’s criteria. WATCH

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit and a high-stakes bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Modi-Putin talks come with a major defence agenda on the table — including Russia’s proposed Su-57 fighter jet deal, joint production in India, engine technology, additional S-400 systems, Pantsir air defence systems, BrahMos upgrades and the proposed $11 billion-plus Super Sukhoi upgrade of India’s Su-30MKI fleet.