Trump Claims Modi Assured Halt to Russian Oil Purchases; India Emphasizes Consumer Interests

Trump Announces Alleged Assurance from PM Modi

United States President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would stop purchasing oil from Russia. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump indicated that this move was aimed at increasing pressure on Moscow in connection with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump stated, 'I was not happy that India was buying oil,' and added that Modi 'assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That's a big stop.' He also noted that while the change would not be immediate, it would occur 'within a short period of time,' and expressed his intention to encourage China to follow suit.

India's Measured Response to Trump's Claim

In response to President Trump's remarks, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on Thursday, October 16, 2025. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal did not directly confirm or deny whether a conversation regarding the cessation of Russian oil purchases took place between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump. Instead, the MEA reiterated India's long-standing energy policy, emphasizing its primary objective to 'safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.' The statement clarified that India's import policies are 'guided entirely by this objective.'

Prioritizing Stable Energy Prices and Secured Supplies

The MEA further elaborated on India's 'twin goals' for its energy policy: 'ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies.' This approach, according to the MEA, involves 'broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.' The Indian government also highlighted ongoing discussions with the United States to deepen energy cooperation, noting that the current US administration has shown interest in this area. Prior to the Ukraine war, India imported less than 1% of its oil from Russia, but this figure surged to approximately 40% as Russia offered discounted prices following international sanctions.

Context of US-India Relations and Tariffs

President Trump's announcement comes amid ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and India. The US had previously imposed tariffs on Indian exports, with some reports linking these actions to India's continued imports of Russian oil. While some Indian refiners are reportedly preparing for a gradual reduction in Russian oil imports, sources indicate that they have not yet received official directives from the government to halt purchases. Data for April to September shows India's Russian crude imports accounted for about 36% of its total oil imports, a slight decrease from 40% in the same period the previous year.