US President Donald Trump has claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil, as Washington intensifies efforts to cut Moscow’s energy revenues and pressure the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said Modi had assured him that India would halt purchases of Russian crude “within a short period of time”, calling it “a big stop”. However, a spokesperson for the Indian embassy in Washington declined to comment on the statement.
The US has been pushing key buyers—including China, India and Turkey—to curb imports of Russian oil and gas, Moscow’s largest source of export revenue. “Now I’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” Trump added.
Trump acknowledged that India could not “immediately” end oil imports from Russia, but said the shift would be “a little bit of a process… over with soon”.
New Delhi has repeatedly defended its continued purchases of discounted Russian crude, stressing its energy needs and economic priorities. Indian officials have also argued that Western nations continue to trade with Russia, calling Washington’s criticism a double standard.
The issue has fuelled tensions between Washington and New Delhi. The Trump administration has imposed 50% tariffs on a wide range of Indian goods—among the highest in the world—framing them as punishment for India’s continued energy and defence deals with Moscow. The tariffs include a 25% penalty on transactions linked to Russia, which the US says help fund the Ukraine war.
Despite friction, Trump on Wednesday praised Modi as a “great man”. The Indian leader said last week that he spoke with Trump and that both sides “reviewed good progress achieved in trade negotiations”.
India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, remains heavily reliant on Russian crude to support its growth. Whether it will comply with Trump’s demand to halt oil imports remains unclear.
