U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally assured him India would phase out Russian oil imports completely by the end of this year. This follows Trump’s earlier assertion last week that India had agreed to halt its purchases of Russian crude.
Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said the move would be gradual but decisive.
“India, as you know, told me that they would stop. It is a process; you can’t just stop it. But by the end of the year, they will be down to almost nothing. That’s a big thing,” he told reporters.
He further praised India’s cooperation, adding, “India has been great. Spoke to Prime Minister Modi yesterday, and they have been absolutely great.” Trump said the planned phase-out was designed to maintain global market stability but expressed confidence it would be achieved by year-end.
Trump reiterated that he had spoken to Modi on Diwali, describing their exchange as “mostly” centered on trade. Modi later thanked Trump for his Diwali wishes and expressed hope that the “two great democracies” would continue to “light the world with faith and progress.”
Earlier this week, Trump warned that India could face ongoing tariffs if it failed to stop Russian oil imports. “Then they’ll just keep paying a lot of tariffs if they said that, but I don’t believe they said that,” he remarked aboard Air Force One.
“No, I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he’s not going to be doing the Russian oil thing. But if they want to say that, then they’ll just continue to pay massive tariffs, and they don’t want to do that,” he added.
The U.S. has already levied 50% tariffs on certain Indian goods to push New Delhi to diversify away from Russian energy supplies.
India, however, has consistently defended its energy policy, arguing that ensuring affordability and supply security for its vast population remains a top priority.
Trump’s latest remarks align with Washington’s broader efforts to restrict Moscow’s oil revenue amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The U.S. Treasury recently sanctioned Russian oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil in an attempt to curtail the Kremlin’s war financing.
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