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Trump Says Modi Agreed to Cut India’s Russian Oil Purchases
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him India will halt or sharply reduce its purchases of Russian oil, as part of renewed U.S. pressure on trade and energy flows,
Trump told reporters that Modi made the commitment during a recent call and that the change “is a big step” toward cutting off Moscow’s energy revenue stream.
He acknowledged the transition would take time, saying “it’s a little bit of a process,” but indicated strong confidence that Indian buying of Russian crude will be significantly scaled down.
While the White House described the assurance as a diplomatic win, Indian officials have not officially confirmed a full agreement.
Analysts note India remains heavily dependent on Russian oil, which accounted for roughly 40 percent of its seaborne imports in the first nine months of 2025, making any significant drop disruptive and complex.
Trump’s comments also underscored a broader U.S. strategy linking energy trade and diplomacy: he told India that ongoing U.S.–India trade discussions hinged in part on New Delhi’s willingness to reduce incoming Russian oil.
The U.S. had already doubled tariffs on Indian exports for purchasing Russian crude, signaling this may be a key leverage component.
With U.S.–India trade talks nearing a potential breakthrough, the next few weeks may see announcements formalizing energy-and-trade accords.
However, the implementation of any reduction in Russian oil imports by India is likely to be gradual and contingent on cost, supply alternatives and global market shifts.
