WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “assured” him India would stop purchasing Russian oil, calling it a major step in efforts to cut off Moscow’s energy revenues.
“[Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop,” he said.
“Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” Trump said during a White House press briefing.
He added that Washington was unhappy with New Delhi’s purchases of Russian crude because it allowed Moscow to continue waging its “ridiculous war” in Ukraine.
However, the U.S. president also said that the halt will not be immediate, and there will be “a little bit of a process,” without giving a clear timeline.
India and China are the largest buyers of Russian seaborne crude, capitalizing on discounted rates after Western sanctions restricted Russian energy sales following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
India Responds: ‘National Interest Comes First’
India’s Ministry of External Affairs refrained from confirming Trump’s remarks. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s import policies are guided by the need to “safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer” and maintain stability in a volatile global energy market.
“India’s energy security is of paramount importance, and our decisions are based entirely on national priorities,” he stated. Jaiswal added that New Delhi continues to expand its energy cooperation with Washington, noting that bilateral discussions are ongoing.
Oil prices rose about 1% following Trump’s announcement, reflecting fears of reduced supply if India scales back Russian crude imports. Analysts say any abrupt change could drive up global prices and strain India’s domestic fuel market.
