India has stood its ground, continuing buying crude from Russia, despite repeated objections from US President Donald TrumpIn October, crude oil worth $2.5 billion flowed into the country from Moscow, making it the world’s second-largest buyer. India was second only to China, which purchased $3.7 billion, according to the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Overall, India’s fossil-fuel imports from Russia reached $3.1 billion, while China’s total stood at $5.8 billion.

Turkey followed with imports valued at $2.7 billion, and the European Union came fourth, bringing in Russian energy products worth $1.1 billion. Western nations, have repeatedly called on India and China to limit their purchases of Russian oil, citing concerns that these imports are financing Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The impact of US sanctions on Russia’s leading oil exporters, Rosneft and Lukoil, announced last month, is expected to appear in India and China’s December import figures. China maintained its position as the top buyer of Russian coal, with India and Turkey ranking next. In October, India imported $351 million worth of Russian coal and $222 million worth of oil products. Turkey was the largest buyer of Russian oil products, with imports valued at $957 million, nearly half of which was diesel. The country also acquired $929 million worth of Russian pipeline gas and $572 million in crude oil. The EU imported $824 million worth of Russian LNG and pipeline gas and $311 million worth of crude oil during the month. South Korea ranked fifth among global importers of Russian fossil fuels, with coal accounting for more than half of its imports ($215 million), followed by LNG ($107 million) and oil products ($80 million).