India has faced no pressure from ​the US to reduce its Russian crude ‌imports, oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday at an industry event.

“I never felt anything,” Puri said when ​asked if there has been pressure to ​cut Russian oil imports.

Puri said Middle East oil ⁠supplies have been rising as the region is ​able to ship out more cargoes.

He said India ​was getting 0.2 per cent of its oil imports from Russia before the Ukraine war, while imports have surged since the war ​started due to discounts on Russian oil.

India’s imports ​of Middle Eastern crude oil surged in September, returning to pre-war ‌levels, ⁠while its refiners cut back purchases of Russian oil amid stiff competition from China, ship-tracking data showed.

The minister said that the purchase of Russian oil ​is linked ​to discounts ⁠and pricing when compared with other grades. Russian oil imports have been reduced ​as the refiners are buying more Gulf ​oil ⁠sold at a discount, he added.

“Whatever people say or do, ultimately it is anchored in their self-interest,” ⁠he ​said.

The minister also said India ​is expanding its refining capacity to help meet local demand and ​export commitments.