Got assurance from India to stop buying Russian oil: Marco Rubio after trade deal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that India has assured Washington of its commitment to refrain from purchasing additional Russian oil, amid fresh sanctions imposed by the United States on Moscow’s energy sector.

"The United States has imposed additional sanctions on Russia's oil. In our conversations with India, we've gotten their commitment to stop buying additional Russian oil. Europe has taken its set of steps moving forward," Russian news agency Tass quoted Rubio as saying at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

His remarks come as the US intensifies efforts to restrict Russia’s energy revenues following the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same Conference, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to strategic autonomy amid questions over whether the recent trade agreement with the US would compel New Delhi to scale back Russian oil imports.

"We



are very much wedded to strategic autonomy because it's very much a part of our history and our evolution. It's something which is very deep, and it's something which cuts across the political spectrum as well," Jaishankar said.

“As the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), will take the oath on Monday alongside his cabinet. South Asian leaders have been invited to the ceremony, and several invitations have already been sent. However, due to weekend holidays in those countries, it may take some time, and the attendance of the leaders, especially the Prime Ministers, will depend on their availability at that time,” as reported by the news agency ANI.

The new Prime Minister and the other members of his cabinet usually take the oath in the Durbar Hall of Bangladesh's Presidential Palace, Bangabhaban. However, this time, the oath ceremony will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan.