In a renewed salvo on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that India has assured him via Prime Minister Narendra Modi that it will stop buying crude oil from Russia — a move he described as “a big step” in efforts to cut Moscow’s revenue linked to the war in Ukraine.
Trump acknowledged that the halt would not happen overnight but stressed the process “will be over soon.”
However, India, currently the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China, has not confirmed such a pledge. The Indian Foreign Ministry indicated that New Delhi continues to purchase discounted Russian crude as part of its broader energy-security strategy.
The backdrop to the remark is a deepening trade and diplomatic rift between Washington and New Delhi: earlier this year the U.S. imposed tariffs totalling 50 % on Indian goods — with a significant portion tied to India’s imports of Russian energy.
Indian refiners are reportedly scoping alternative sources of crude oil and natural gas, including from the U.S., but have made it clear that economic factors — particularly cost and reliable supply — remain the primary drivers of procurement decisions.
Analysts suggest that cutting Russian crude flows is easier said than done. India’s term contracts and the volume of spot purchases from Russia mean that even if a policy shift is announced, the logistics and economics would delay any dramatic change in shipping volumes.
For Washington, Trump’s assertion serves two strategic goals: signaling firmness toward Moscow and leveraging India’s dependence on Russian energy to bring about alignment in the campaign to isolate Russia economically. Yet, for New Delhi, energy affordability, security of supply and strategic autonomy continue to guide policy — a balancing act amid increasingly tangled geopolitics.