President Donald Trump has said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil, as the U.S. seeks to put economic pressure on the Kremlin as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters he had received assurances from Modi that India would halt its purchases within a short period of time, which he called a big stop. A spokeswoman for the Indian embassy in Washington DC would not comment.
Oil and gas are Russia's biggest exports, and Moscow's biggest customers include China, India, and Turkey.
Now I've got to get China to do the same thing, Trump said in the Oval Office on Wednesday, as part of his administration's broader push to cut off Moscow's energy funding. The Trump administration is also pushing Japan to stop importing oil and gas from Russia, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent communicating this expectation to visiting Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato.
While Trump acknowledged that India cannot immediately halt oil shipments, he indicated that the process would conclude soon. This comes amid ongoing tensions as the U.S. has imposed 50% tariffs on goods from India, which Trump has characterized as punishment for buying Russian oil and weapons.
Modi has maintained a neutral position in the Russia-Ukraine war, despite India's deep ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Indian officials have pushed back against Trump’s accusations, citing a perceived double standard regarding ongoing trade with Russia by both the U.S. and Europe.
The dispute over Russian oil has introduced strain into U.S.-India relations, although Trump has praised Modi as a great man and acknowledged positive developments in trade negotiations during their recent discussions.
