President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to scale back India’s purchases of Russian oil. The announcement came as Washington increased pressure on Moscow’s energy revenues and sought to isolate the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters that Modi assured him India would stop buying Russian oil “within a short period of time.” He called the pledge “a big stop.”
US steps up pressure on India
The US president has leveraged India’s reliance on Russian oil in trade talks. So far, New Delhi has resisted, insisting its energy policies serve national interests and protect domestic consumers.
An Indian government spokesman confirmed that discussions with Washington were “ongoing.” He said the US administration had shown “interest in strengthening energy co-operation with India.”
“Our top priority is to safeguard Indian consumers amid global energy volatility,” the spokesman said. “Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.”
Targeting Moscow’s energy revenues
Oil and gas remain Russia’s most valuable exports, with China, India and Turkey among its main buyers. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said his next goal was to persuade China to follow India’s example. He described the effort as part of a broader strategy to cut Moscow’s energy income.
The Trump administration has also urged Japan to halt imports of Russian oil and gas. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had communicated this expectation to Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato during his visit to Washington.
Tariffs and a gradual transition
Trump acknowledged that India could not immediately end Russian oil imports. “It will take a little bit of a process,” he said. “But the process will be over soon.”
Washington has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, which Trump described as punishment for buying Russian oil and weapons. The tariffs, among the world’s highest, took effect in August. They include a 25% penalty on transactions linked to Russia, a major source of funding for its war in Ukraine.
Neutral stance strains US-India relations
Modi has defended India’s neutral position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict while maintaining strong ties with President Vladimir Putin. Indian officials have accused Washington of double standards, pointing to ongoing Western trade with Russia.
India relies on discounted Russian crude to support its fast-growing economy, now the fifth largest in the world.
The dispute over Russian oil has created friction between Trump and Modi. Still, Trump praised Modi 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.”
