President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to reduce and eventually end India’s imports of Russian oil. The announcement came as Washington intensified efforts to cut Moscow’s energy revenue and pressure the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters that Modi assured him India would stop buying Russian oil “within a short period of time.” He described the move as “a big stop.”
Washington tightens economic pressure on India
The US president has used India’s reliance on Russian energy as a bargaining tool in wider trade negotiations. So far, New Delhi has resisted, insisting its energy policy serves domestic needs.
An Indian government spokesman confirmed that discussions with Washington were “ongoing.” He said the US administration had shown “interest in strengthening energy co-operation with India.”
“Our top priority is to protect Indian consumers in a volatile energy market,” the spokesman said. “Our import policies are driven entirely by that goal.”
America’s plan to weaken Moscow’s energy power
Oil and gas remain Russia’s largest exports, with China, India and Turkey among its biggest customers. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said his next aim was to convince China to follow India’s example. He described the effort as part of a broader plan to cut Moscow’s energy profits.
The Trump administration has also pressed Japan to stop importing Russian oil and gas. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had communicated this expectation to Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato during his visit to Washington.
Tariffs and transition challenges for India
Trump admitted India could not end its Russian oil imports immediately. “It will take a little bit of a process,” he said. “But the process will be over soon.”
The United States has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, which Trump called punishment for purchasing Russian oil and weapons. The tariffs, among the world’s highest, came into effect in August. They include a 25% penalty on transactions linked to Russia, a major source of funding for its war in Ukraine.
India defends neutrality as tensions rise
Modi has defended India’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict while maintaining close ties with President Vladimir Putin. Indian officials have accused Washington of hypocrisy, pointing to ongoing Western trade with Russia.
India depends on discounted Russian crude to support its fast-growing economy, now the fifth largest in the world.
The oil dispute has strained relations between Trump and Modi. Still, Trump praised Modi on Wednesday as a “great man.” Modi said last week that he had spoken with Trump and that both leaders “reviewed good progress achieved in trade negotiations.”
