TL;DR : President Trump said Prime Minister Modi promised to stop buying oil from Russia. India hasn't confirmed this. The move is part of U.S. efforts to cut Russia's income from oil during the Ukraine war. India still buys a large share of its oil from Russia, and it's unclear when or if this will change.
Key Points
- Trump's Announcement:
- On October 15, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump said Prime Minister Narendra Modi "assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia."
- Trump called it "a big step" and said it would happen gradually: "a little bit of a process, but that process will be over soon."
- India’s Response:
- The Indian embassy in Washington and Indian government officials have not confirmed or denied the claim.
- India continues to import 1.62 million barrels per day from Russia as of September 2025-about 34% of its total oil imports.
- Background and Context:
- Trump has pressured India for months over Russian oil, citing the Ukraine war.
- In 2025, he imposed a total of 50% tariffs on Indian exports, 25% base and 25% penalty for Russian oil imports.
- India’s Position:
- Indian officials have defended Russian oil imports as necessary for energy security and inflation control.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (September 2025): "We make decisions that are in national interest."
- Global Reactions:
- Oil prices rose ~2% after Trump’s statement (Brent to $62.48/barrel, WTI to $58.81).
- Russia dismissed the claim as “unfounded,” saying it has “considerable reserves.”
- European leaders welcomed the potential move but called for verification.
- Next Steps:
- Trump said he would now try to get China to stop buying Russian oil: “Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also urged Japan to halt Russian energy imports in a separate meeting.
- Other Details:
- Trump emphasized his personal bond with Modi, calling him “a great man” who “loves Trump.”
- There was no record of a direct Trump-Modi call on October 15, but U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor met Modi on October 11 to discuss energy and trade.