New Delhi: Days after US President Donald Trump announced the US-India trade deal, after which it emerged that the 25% US ‘penalty’ on India over its purchase of Russian oil would be removed, India today, February 5, said that ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion people is its “supreme priority” and “diversifying energy sourcing” is at the heart of ensuring this.External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal’s comments at the ministry’s media briefing came in response to multiple claims by Trump and senior US administration officials that India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil.“Insofar as India’s energy sourcing is concerned, the government has stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government,” Jaiswal said, when asked about whether India has indeed stopped purchase of Russian crude.“Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this. All of India’s actions are taken and will be taken with this in mind,” he added.India has, earlier as well, held this line. Russia has maintained that India has not communicated any reduction in its oil inflows, while admitting knowledge that India is looking to diversify imports. Last year saw a peak in India’s import of Russian oil.The announcement of the Indo-US trade deal has been marked by the absence of any key details since. Trade bodies and analysts, while hopeful of an uptick in exporters’ fortunes, have said that there is need for caution.When asked about the deal, Jaiswal said sought to refer journalists to the statements made by both sides on the matter.“Prime Minister had a telecon with President Trump yesterday. Post the call and President Trump’s tweet, the Prime Minister thanked the President for the reduction in reciprocal tariff. Prime Minister noted that Made in India products will now be exported to the US at a reduced tariff of 18%. This trade agreement will give a major boost to India’s export, labour intensive industries, job creation, growth and bring prosperity to our people. The US side has also clarified that the final figure of tariff is 18%,” he said.India’s earlier tariff rate – including the Russian oil ‘penalty’ – was one of the highest at 50%.On India’s plans to purchase Venezuelan oil, as claimed by Trump multiple times, the MEA noted that Venezuela has been a long-standing partner of India in the energy sector encompassing trade and investments.“The country was among India’s major sources of crude oil until FY 2019–20, which were discontinued following sanctions. Imports from Venezuela resumed in FY 2023–24, before being halted again due to the re-imposition of sanctions. Indian PSUs have had a partnership with Venezuela’s National Oil Company, PdVSA and have been maintaining a presence in Venezuela since 2008,” Jaiswal said.In his February 2 trade deal announcement, Trump claimed that Modi had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead “buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela,” a move he said would “help END THE WAR in Ukraine”.A day ago, the US President had said that India will buy oil from Venezuela instead of Iran, possibly referring to Russia.