U.S. President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will stop purchasing Russian oil – a move which he saw happening “within a short period of time” though not immediately.
New Delhi has neither confirmed nor denied the report so far.
Trump, displeased with India’s massive Russian oil purchases during three years of Moscow’s war on Ukraine, imposed a 25 % tariff that late August, arguing that the Indian commerce fueled President Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
“There will be no oil. He’s not buying oil,” Trump told reporters, referring to the Indian leader, who has been under intense U.S. and domestic pressure on the issue.
Tariffs and Diplomatic Pressure
Indian dependence on cheap Russian oil and Washington’s blistering criticism of it have made the issue a diplomatic trial for New Delhi and his right-wing BJP party.
Indian goods exported to the United States face a crushing 50% tariff since Modi’s government failed to finalize a trade deal with the United States on Trump’s timeline ending on August 1, triggering a 25 % charge.
BREAKING
Donald Trump says that Narendra Modi has assured him on call that India will not buy Russian Oil anymore. 😳
Narendra Modi has completely surrendered in front of Trump just for Adani.
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) October 16, 2025
However, India has continued its oil imports from Russia, with Modi publicly declaring that he would not compromise on India’s national interest – a reference to protecting the agricultural sector, which the U.S. says should be open to American commerce.
“I was not happy that India was buying oil,” Trump said at the Oval Office on Wednesday.
“And [Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing.”
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India, currently the second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China, had previously defended its purchases as part of its strategy to diversify energy sources.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Indian imports of Russian crude were minimal. Since then, however, India has emerged as the top buyer of seaborne Russian oil.
Modi’s Diplomatic Moves
Observers saw Modi’s apparent shift as a concession to U.S. pressure, especially in the light of rising tariffs.
His meeting with newly appointed U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor — a close Trump ally — just hours after Gor arrived in New Delhi was widely interpreted as an attempt to reset relations.
US says India must curb Russian oil purchases if it wats a trade deal
Gor said the Trump administration valued its strategic partnership with India and expressed optimism about future cooperation, citing a recent phone call between Trump and Modi.
Meanwhile, Indian Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal indicated that India could potentially increase its oil purchases from the United States by up to $15 billion, contingent on competitive pricing.
Broader Geopolitical Implications
While India has yet to reach a trade deal to lift U.S. tariffs — unlike some other major trading partners — Modi has also been strengthening ties with Russia and China.
In September, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in a summit widely perceived as a counterbalance to U.S. influence.
Trump, who has grown increasingly critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is expected to meet with Ukraiian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.
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The U.S. president, who claims to have played a pivotal role in several world conflicts, has expressed growing frustration with the ongoing Ukraine war.
The war which will soon enter its fourth year has been going on despite U.S. and Western sanctions against Moscow, which seems to have worked it’s way around the international restriction with oil trade with such large countries as India and China – the second largest economy after the U.S. which has its set of difference over Trump’s tariff policy.
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Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
