United States President Donald Trump has revealed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop purchasing oil from Russia, signaling a potential shift in global energy relations.
Trump made the announcement on Wednesday while speaking with reporters at the White House.
He said Modi assured him that India would end its Russian oil imports “within a short period of time,” calling the move “a big stop.”
The decision comes as Washington intensifies pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
The U.S. has been urging major energy buyers to isolate Russia economically by cutting off its oil and gas revenues.
However, India has long relied on discounted Russian crude to stabilize domestic fuel prices.
New Delhi previously resisted Western pressure to halt such purchases, citing national energy security.
Reacting to Trump’s comments, an Indian government spokesperson said discussions with the U.S. were “ongoing.”
The official added that Washington had shown “interest in deepening energy co-operation with India.”
“Our consistent priority is to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers in a volatile energy market,” the spokesperson said.
“Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.”
Russia currently counts India, China, and Turkey among its largest oil and gas customers.
Cutting off one of these markets would significantly impact Moscow’s revenue streams, especially amid tightening sanctions.
Trump, addressing reporters in the Oval Office, said, “Now I’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” referring to his broader push to reduce global dependence on Russian energy.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, however, maintained that Beijing would continue its “normal, legitimate economic and energy cooperation” with all countries, including Russia.
The Kremlin reacted sharply to the announcement, saying it could still supply quality oil at cheaper rates to willing buyers.
It warned that attempts to block countries from purchasing Russian crude violated “the principles of free trade.”
The Trump administration has also asked Japan to stop importing Russian oil and gas. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he conveyed this expectation to Japan’s Finance Minister, Katsunobu Kato, during their meeting on Wednesday.
While acknowledging that India cannot “immediately” halt oil imports from Russia, Trump said the process “is going to be over with soon.”
Washington has already imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods among the world’s highest as part of its effort to punish New Delhi’s ongoing trade with Moscow.
The tariffs, introduced in August, also include a 25% penalty on transactions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded at an energy forum in Moscow, insisting that Russia remains one of the world’s leading oil producers despite what he described as “unfair” restrictions.
“Russia maintains its position as a top oil producer despite the use of unfair competition mechanisms against us,” Putin said.
The development marks a new chapter in U.S.-India relations as both nations navigate competing interests in global energy security and diplomatic alignment.
