US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would stop buying oil from Russia. The announcement came as Washington increased efforts to block Moscow’s energy revenues amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
India and China remain the two largest importers of Russian seaborne crude, benefiting from discounted prices after Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
The Indian embassy in Washington has not yet confirmed whether Prime Minister Modi made such a promise to Donald Trump.
Later, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he met with Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato in Washington and conveyed that the Trump administration expects Japan to halt Russian energy imports. The Japanese government has not issued a response so far.
Russia is currently India’s top oil supplier, exporting about 1.62 million barrels per day to the country in September — roughly one-third of India’s total oil imports. Indian officials have long defended their purchases as essential for national energy security, despite repeated US pressure.
Analysts say that if India stops importing Russian oil, it would mark a major shift in global energy trade and could influence other nations still buying Russian crude.
In addition to diplomatic efforts, Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Indian exports to discourage its crude purchases from Moscow. Earlier this year, he raised tariffs by 25%, citing India’s continued reliance on Russian energy.
In other news read more about Trump’s Tomahawk Threats Signal Rising Frustration With Moscow
Trump’s push for a global energy realignment underscores his broader goal of isolating Russia economically while strengthening ties with key allies like India and Japan.
