India’s state refiners are rushing to speed up payments for Russian crude, hoping to complete their trades before a dramatic expansion of Washington’s curbs on Moscow’s oil industry effectively comes into force next month,

India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, does not expect any disruption to Russian oil supply in the next two months as U.S.-sanctioned tankers are allowed to discharge crude until March,

Indian refiners are aiming to settle payments for Russian oil much faster to avoid complications from US sanctions.