At least two vessels loaded with Russian oil bound for refiners in India have diverted to other destinations following new U.S. sanctions, trade sources said, and LSEG trade flows showed.

Rubio called India an "ally" but noted that Delhi's Russian oil imports were hampering its relationship with Washington.

India’s largest oil refiner has snapped up millions of barrels of crude from the US and UAE, with the South Asian nation facing mounting pressure from US and Europe over its purchases from Russia.