India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of penalties, two Indian government sources said, not wishing to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

By bnm Gulf bureau Indian officials have said they would keep purchasing oil from Russia despite threats of penalties from US President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported on August 2. New Delhi has been among the top buyers of seaborne Russian crude since Western sanctions altered Russia’s trade flows.

India has bought a nearly constant flow of Russian oil for the past two years. Prices fluctuated, but each year’s sales have been worth approximately $275 billion. Iraq and Saudi Arabia, traditionally India’s biggest suppliers, have been pushed to the side.