President Donald Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil. The statement came as Washington intensified its efforts to pressure Moscow economically and push for an end to the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters he had received Modi’s assurance that India would halt oil purchases “within a short period of time,” calling the decision “a big stop.”
Pressure on India and ongoing talks
The US president has used India’s Russian oil imports as leverage in broader trade negotiations. So far, New Delhi has resisted American pressure.
An Indian government spokesman responded that discussions with Washington were “ongoing.” The US administration, he said, had shown interest in “deepening energy co-operation with India.”
“Our consistent priority is to protect the interests of Indian consumers in a volatile energy market,” the spokesman added. “Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.”
Targeting Moscow’s energy lifeline
Oil and gas remain Russia’s biggest exports, with China, India and Turkey among its main buyers. Trump said in the Oval Office that his next goal was to convince China to make the same commitment. The move is part of a broader campaign to cut Moscow’s access to energy revenues.
The Trump administration has also urged Japan to stop importing oil and gas from Russia. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters he had conveyed this expectation to visiting Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato.
India’s gradual shift and tariffs
Trump acknowledged that India could not immediately halt shipments. “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, measures Trump described as punishment for buying Russian oil and weapons. The tariffs, which began in August, are among the world’s highest. They include a 25% penalty on transactions linked to Russia, which remain a key source of funding for its war in Ukraine.
India’s position and strained ties
Modi has maintained India’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict despite close ties with President Vladimir Putin. Indian officials have called US criticism hypocritical, pointing to continued Western trade with Russia.
India relies heavily on discounted Russian crude to sustain its growing economy, now the world’s fifth largest.
The dispute over Russian oil has strained relations between Trump and Modi. Yet the US president on Wednesday praised the Indian leader as a “great man.” Modi said last week that he had spoken with Trump and that they “reviewed good progress achieved in trade negotiations.”
