PM Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump.
Credit: PTI Photo
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will stop purchasing oil from Russia — a move he described as a “big step” in increasing pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said the United States was “not happy” about India’s continued imports of Russian crude, arguing that such purchases help fund President Vladimir Putin’s war.
“He (Modi) is a friend of mine, we have a great relationship… we were not happy with him buying oil from Russia because that let Russia continue on with this ridiculous war where they’ve lost a million and a half people,” Trump said.
According to Trump, Modi assured him that India would phase out oil imports from Russia. “That’s a big step. Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” he added.
Praising Modi’s leadership, Trump said, “He’s a great man. He loves Trump — and I don’t mean that in the wrong way. I don’t want to destroy his political career.”
Trump further claimed the shift away from Russian crude had already begun. “He’s assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia. It’s already started — it’s a process, but it will be over soon,” he said.
India is currently the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels after China, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Following Western sanctions on Moscow in 2022, India ramped up purchases of discounted Russian oil, which now accounts for nearly 40% of its total crude imports.
Trump said Modi had indicated that India could resume energy trade with Moscow after the war ends.
“If India doesn’t buy oil, it makes it much easier. They assured me that within a short period of time, they will not be buying oil from Russia — and they’ll go back after the war is over,” he said.