President Donald Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to stop buying Russian oil. The statement came as Washington intensified its efforts to cut Moscow’s energy income and pressure the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters he had received Modi’s personal assurance that India would end Russian oil purchases “within a short period of time.” He called the pledge “a big stop.”
US increases diplomatic and trade pressure
The US president has sought to use India’s Russian oil imports as a bargaining tool in broader trade negotiations. New Delhi has so far resisted pressure, insisting that its energy policy serves national interests.
An Indian government spokesman confirmed that discussions with Washington were “ongoing.” He said the US administration had shown “interest in deepening energy co-operation with India.”
“Our top priority is to protect Indian consumers amid global price swings,” the spokesman said. “Our import policies are shaped entirely by this objective.”
Washington targets Moscow’s energy funding
Oil and gas remain Russia’s biggest sources of revenue, with China, India and Turkey among its main buyers. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said his next goal was to persuade China to do the same. He described this as part of a wider plan to choke Moscow’s access to energy money.
The Trump administration has also pushed Japan to end imports of Russian oil and gas. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had delivered this message to visiting Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato.
India faces tariffs and a slow transition
Trump admitted that India could not halt Russian oil imports overnight. “It will take a little bit of a process,” he said. “But the process will be over soon.”
The US has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, which Trump described as punishment for purchasing Russian oil and weapons. The tariffs, among the world’s highest, took effect in August. They include a 25% penalty on any transactions linked to Russia, a crucial source of funds for its war in Ukraine.
India defends neutrality despite friction with Washington
Modi has continued to defend India’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war while maintaining close ties with President Vladimir Putin. Indian officials have accused Washington of hypocrisy, pointing to ongoing Western trade with Russia.
India depends on discounted Russian crude to support its fast-growing economy, now the fifth largest in the world.
The dispute over Russian oil has strained ties between Trump and Modi. Still, Trump praised the Indian leader on Wednesday as a “great man.” Modi said last week that he had spoken with Trump and that both leaders “reviewed good progress achieved in trade negotiations.”
