Russian and Chinese officials are in discussions to increase the flow of Russian crude oil to China, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed on Tuesday.

China currently imports around 1.4 million barrels of Russian oil per day via sea routes, alongside approximately 900,000 barrels daily through pipelines, making it one of the country’s largest buyers of Russian crude. India has also emerged as a significant purchaser of Russian oil since the onset of Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine in February 2022.

The talks come in the wake of new U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s leading oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, imposed last month. Analysts suggest that expanding exports to China could help Russia mitigate the impact of these sanctions and sustain its energy revenues.

The discussions highlight ongoing energy cooperation between Moscow and Beijing as global geopolitical tensions reshape international oil trade flows.