In a significant development, President Trump has claimed that India is stepping away from Russian oil imports, stating the country has “de-escalated” its purchases and will soon cease them entirely. These comments were made during a meeting at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighting the geopolitical implications of India’s energy choices. Trump specified that India’s share of Russian oil, previously around 38%, is now being phased out.
This assertion builds upon earlier statements by Trump, who had previously declared he had been assured by Indian leadership that they would cease buying oil from Russia. He acknowledged the phased nature of such a transition but expressed optimism about its swift completion. “They will not be buying oil from Russia, and they’ll go back to Russia after the war’s over,” Trump noted, linking this to potential conflict de-escalation.
Trump lauded India and Prime Minister Modi, calling the country “an incredible country” and Modi a “great man.” This narrative, however, has been officially contradicted by India. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson denied any recent telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump concerning oil imports, referring to existing official statements on energy policy.
India has indeed increased its engagement with Russia for oil in recent years, though China continues to be Russia’s largest energy buyer. The context of these claims is also marked by past US actions, such as tariffs on India’s Russian oil purchases under the Trump administration. As India’s trade team engages in crucial negotiations in Washington, these statements add another layer to the bilateral discussions.