Amid intensifying geopolitical tensions over energy supplies, Russia’s Ambassador to India Denis Alipov on Wednesday strongly defended India’s purchase of Russian crude, asserting that New Delhi does not require permission from any country to secure its energy needs.Speaking to a Russian news channel RT India, Alipov said India’s position had already been made clear by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. “I think a reply has already been given by Indian officials. EAM Jaishankar responded to it—India doesn’t require any permission from anybody,” the envoy said.Alipov also took a swipe at the approach of the United States, suggesting that Washington often treats other countries not as equal partners but as subordinate actors in global decision-making. “I don’t think the US sees anybody as partners — junior partners or subordinates at best,” he said.The Russian diplomat argued that attempts to sideline Russian crude from global markets were unrealistic and could trigger severe supply shortages at a time when energy markets are already under strain.“You cannot exclude Russian oil from the global basket. There will be an acute shortage of supply. Whether India buys the Russian oil or someone else, it will be there — Russian oil will be there anyway,” Alipov said.He added that continuing energy cooperation with Moscow would ultimately serve India’s interests. “India will only benefit by buying from us,” he said.The remarks come amid heightened volatility in global oil markets triggered by the escalating West Asia conflict and disruptions to tanker movement through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to exchange assessments on the unfolding geopolitical situation.The conversation came at a time when disruptions to maritime traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz have sent shockwaves through global energy markets, pushing up oil and gas prices and raising concerns over supply security for major import-dependent economies such as India.The narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman accounts for roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making it one of the most critical chokepoints in global energy trade.“A good telecon with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Shared our assessments on the West Asia conflict and related diplomatic efforts. Also took stock of our bilateral cooperation agenda,” Jaishankar said in a post on social media.While the specifics of the discussion were not disclosed, the exchange comes days after the United States issued a temporary 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to continue purchasing Russian crude, citing the extraordinary volatility in global energy markets.Officials did not confirm whether India’s procurement of Russian oil figured in the conversation between New Delhi and Moscow.