US President Donald Trump has intensified his public statements regarding India’s oil trade with Russia, asserting on Friday that India has “largely stopped” purchasing Russian crude. This latest claim comes just weeks after Trump had previously said that India would soon pause its oil imports from Moscow and amid ongoing trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington, which include contentious issues such as tariffs and energy policy.
Trump made the remarks during a media interaction at the White House, where he also suggested that he may visit India next year. Speaking about bilateral trade, Trump said, “They (trade talks with India) are going good, he stopped buying oil from Russia largely. He is a friend of mine, and we speak and he wants me to go there. We will figure that out, I will go…” The statement marked a significant shift in tone from Trump’s earlier commentary, as he moved from predicting a future pause in Russian oil imports to claiming that India had “largely” stopped such purchases.
This focus on energy is central to broader US-India negotiations. Earlier this year, the Trump administration imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian imports, citing India’s energy trade with Russia as one of the key concerns. These tariffs, which took effect in August, were widely interpreted as an attempt to leverage New Delhi’s position in the international oil market to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the war in Ukraine. Half of these duties were explicitly linked to India’s crude imports from Russia, highlighting the strategic importance Washington attaches to the issue.
India’s role in the global energy market has shifted markedly since the onset of Western sanctions on Russia over its Ukraine invasion. Following the initial round of sanctions, India emerged as the largest buyer of Russian crude oil, taking advantage of discounted prices while simultaneously addressing its growing domestic energy needs. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, India reportedly imported 1.7 million barrels per day of Russian crude, which constituted roughly 34% of its total crude oil imports. This reliance on Russian oil has naturally drawn the attention of the US, especially as Washington seeks to tighten the economic squeeze on Moscow.
Trump first made his statements regarding a potential halt in India-Russia energy trade in October, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “assured” him that India would soon stop purchasing Russian oil. “…I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step,” Trump had said, repeating similar assertions in subsequent interviews. These claims, however, were promptly denied by the Indian government, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarifying that it was unaware of any such conversation. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had stated, “On the question of whether there was a conversation or a telephone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, I am not aware of any conversation yesterday between the two leaders.”
Despite India’s denial, Trump’s latest statement represents a change in messaging. Whereas earlier he framed the cessation of Russian oil purchases as an ongoing process contingent on India’s future decisions, he now asserts that India has already “largely” ceased imports. This shift underscores the high stakes involved in the evolving US-India energy dialogue and the continued American focus on curbing Moscow’s oil revenues.
Trump’s remarks also coincided with new US sanctions targeting Russian oil firms. On Friday, the United States imposed penalties on Rosneft and Lukoil, aiming to further pressure Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. These sanctions have the potential to impact global oil markets, including India, which has sought to balance strategic energy needs with international diplomatic pressures. India, for its part, has indicated that it is “examining the impact” of the US sanctions, emphasizing that its decisions will reflect “the changing dynamics of the global market.”
The broader context of these statements is complex. India’s energy strategy has historically sought to diversify supply sources to ensure stability and affordability, particularly given its rapidly growing energy demand. Russia, offering discounted crude, has emerged as a key supplier in recent years, even as Western sanctions have reshaped global supply chains. At the same time, India has maintained close diplomatic and economic ties with the United States, which has increasingly pressed New Delhi to align with its geopolitical objectives, including isolating Russia economically.
Trump’s repeated focus on India’s Russian oil imports can also be seen as an extension of his broader trade and foreign policy posture. During his tenure, he has frequently used trade measures, such as tariffs, as instruments to achieve strategic objectives. The 50% tariffs imposed on Indian goods earlier this year were widely viewed not only as an economic tool but also as a lever to influence India’s energy choices in the context of US-Russia tensions.
The Indian government’s cautious stance highlights the balancing act New Delhi faces. While India is aware of Washington’s concerns and the potential economic and diplomatic consequences, it must also manage domestic energy security and affordability. The statement by the MEA that decisions will “naturally consider the changing dynamics of the global market” underscores India’s approach to assessing geopolitical risks alongside economic and energy considerations.
India’s response has been consistent: while open to engagement with the United States on energy and trade issues, it will not compromise on energy security or domestic priorities. This includes leveraging Russian oil as a stable and cost-effective source amidst volatile global markets. Analysts suggest that India’s imports from Russia are likely to continue, albeit possibly in adjusted volumes or through strategic channels to mitigate international pressure.
The Trump administration, on the other hand, continues to link energy trade with geopolitical compliance, suggesting that New Delhi’s decisions have broader implications for US foreign policy. Trump’s public remarks, emphasizing that India has “largely stopped” Russian oil imports, appear designed to showcase American influence and create a narrative of compliance, even as India has yet to officially confirm such a change.
The issue is further complicated by the timing of Trump’s statements, which come ahead of potential US-India discussions on broader trade, investment, and technology cooperation. Energy trade, especially the purchase of Russian crude, remains a critical element in these talks, given that it intersects with issues of sanctions, tariffs, and geopolitical alignment. India’s strategic autonomy in energy policy is therefore at the center of ongoing diplomatic attention.
In sum, the latest statement by Donald Trump intensifying his claims about India’s Russian oil purchases reflects both the high stakes of global energy geopolitics and the complex nature of US-India relations. India finds itself navigating competing pressures: the strategic need to secure affordable energy supplies from Russia, adherence to global trade norms, and diplomatic engagement with the United States, which seeks to isolate Moscow economically. While Trump asserts that India has “largely stopped” buying Russian crude, the Indian government has yet to officially acknowledge any such development, maintaining its position of carefully evaluating global market conditions and national interests.
As negotiations between New Delhi and Washington continue, the future of India-Russia energy ties remains under close international scrutiny, with potential repercussions not only for bilateral trade but also for broader geopolitical alignments in South Asia and beyond.
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