U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that India has agreed to stop purchasing oil from Russia — a move he says is part of Washington’s broader strategy to pressure the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine, according to a BBC report.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday (October 15), Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that New Delhi would soon halt its imports of Russian oil.
The White House has long been pressing India to reduce its energy dependence on Moscow. However, New Delhi had previously stood firm, arguing that affordable Russian crude was essential to protect Indian consumers amid global price volatility. Trump’s administration, analysts say, is now using the issue as a tool in its broader trade strategy with India.
Trump acknowledged that India may not be able to immediately cease oil purchases from Russia but insisted that “the process will conclude very soon.”
In response, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that talks are underway with the United States and that Washington has expressed interest in expanding bilateral energy cooperation. “Safeguarding the interests of Indian consumers in an unstable global energy market remains our priority,” the spokesperson said.
Oil and gas are Russia’s largest export commodities, with China, India, and Turkey among its biggest buyers. Trump added that China “must also be persuaded to follow the same course.”
The U.S. has also called on Japan to end imports of Russian oil and gas. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he conveyed this “expectation” to Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato during a meeting on Wednesday.
In August, the White House imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil and weapons — one of the steepest new U.S. tariffs. The package also includes a 25 percent additional tax on transactions linked to Russia, which Washington argues help fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Modi, however, has repeatedly emphasized India’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. New Delhi has accused the U.S. and Europe of hypocrisy, pointing out that Western nations continue to buy Russian energy.
India continues to import Russian crude at discounted rates to support its domestic economy — a practice that has fueled growing tension between New Delhi and Washington, even as both sides seek to maintain strategic cooperation.
