President Donald Trump has stated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil, as the U.S. seeks to apply economic pressure on the Kremlin to help end the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters that he received assurances from Modi that India would halt its purchases 'within a short period of time,' labeling it as 'a big stop.'
A spokeswoman for the Indian embassy in Washington DC declined to comment on the matter. The U.S. president has aimed to leverage India's purchases of Russian oil in his broader trade agenda, leading to a diplomatic rift between the two nations.
Oil and gas exports constitute the backbone of Russia's economy, with major customers including China, India, and Turkey.
'Now I've got to get China to do the same thing,' Trump remarked during his announcement, reinforcing the U.S. administration's push to cut off Moscow's energy funding.
The U.S. has also urged Japan to stop importing Russian energy, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent communicating this expectation to the Japanese Finance Minister.
Recognizing that India cannot 'immediately' halt oil shipments, Trump acknowledged that the transition would take some time but reassured that it would be finalized 'soon.'
The Trump administration has levied 50% tariffs on goods from India, which Trump has called punitive in response to India's transactions with Russia.
These tariffs, imposed in August, are among the world's highest and encompass a 25% levy on transactions with Russia, a key source of funding for its war efforts.
Despite these pressures, Modi has maintained India's position of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, asserting India's right to trade with Russia.
Indian officials have pushed back against accusations of benefiting from the war, highlighting ongoing trade with Russia from U.S. and European markets.
The dispute over energy imports has led to strained relations between Trump and Modi, although Trump has complimented Modi as a 'great man' in recent statements.
Modi mentioned earlier that he and Trump reviewed progress in their ongoing trade negotiations during their latest discussions.
