U.S. President Donald Trump says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying oil from Russia — a move the White House hopes will increase economic pressure on Moscow
to end the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said Modi had assured him that India would phase out Russian oil imports “within a short period of time,” calling it “a big stop.”
The U.S. has long urged India to cut energy ties with Russia, but New Delhi has largely resisted, arguing it must protect its own economic interests.
An Indian government spokesperson confirmed that discussions with Washington were ongoing, describing the U.S. as “interested in deepening energy cooperation with India.”
“Our top priority remains safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers amid a volatile energy market,” the spokesperson added. “Our import policies are shaped entirely by that goal.”
Oil and gas are among Russia’s most important exports, with China, India, and Turkey ranking among its biggest customers.
“Now I’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” Trump said from the Oval Office, outlining his administration’s wider strategy to choke off funding for Moscow’s war effort.
In Beijing, a Chinese government spokesperson defended the country’s continued trade with Russia, saying China maintains “normal, legitimate economic and energy cooperation with countries around the world.”
The Kremlin, meanwhile, pushed back against U.S. efforts to restrict its exports. A Russian official argued that preventing countries from buying Russian crude “violates the principles of free trade,” while touting Russia’s ability to deliver “high-quality oil at a lower price.”
The Trump administration is also pressuring Japan to stop importing Russian oil and gas. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he conveyed this “expectation” during a meeting with Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato earlier on Wednesday.
Trump acknowledged that India couldn’t stop shipments “immediately,” calling it “a bit of a process,” but added that “the process is going to be over with soon.”
Tensions between Washington and New Delhi have escalated over the issue. The U.S. recently slapped 50% tariffs on Indian goods — some of the highest in the world — which Trump described as punishment for India’s continued purchases of Russian oil and weapons. The tariffs also include a 25% penalty on transactions linked to Moscow, part of a broader effort to cut off funding for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite mounting pressure, Modi has maintained that India remains neutral in the conflict. He has defended the country’s right to buy discounted Russian crude to support its fast-growing economy — now the world’s fifth largest.
In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin told an energy forum that his country remains one of the world’s leading oil producers despite what he called “unfair” restrictions.
“Russia continues to hold its position among the top global producers, even with these mechanisms of unfair competition used against us,” Putin said.
Last month, the UK and the European Union lowered their price cap on Russian crude from $60 to $47.60 per barrel, aiming to further cut into the Kremlin’s oil revenues. The cap was first introduced in late 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — but Moscow continues to earn billions from oil exports.
The ongoing dispute has strained the relationship between Trump and Modi, though the U.S. president on Wednesday called the Indian leader a “great man.” Modi, for his part, said last week that the two had discussed “good progress in trade negotiations.” Photo by The White House from Washington, DC, Wikimedia commons.
