During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, President Trump announced that India has significantly reduced its purchases of Russian oil. He claimed that India is in the process of halting these imports and will cease buying Russian crude altogether. Trump estimated that India’s previous share of Russian oil was approximately 38%, a figure he believes is no longer accurate.
This statement follows Trump’s earlier assertion that he had been informed by Indian leadership that they would cease purchasing oil from Russia. He acknowledged that such a shift requires time but expressed confidence that the process is nearing completion. Trump suggested that India’s move away from Russian oil would contribute to an “easier” path toward ending the conflict. He also indicated that India’s relationship with Russia regarding oil would likely resume post-conflict.
Trump spoke positively of India, calling Prime Minister Modi a “great man” and the nation an “incredible country.” However, these claims have been met with official denial from India. The Ministry of External Affairs, through its spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, stated that there was no recent phone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump regarding oil purchases. India has previously issued its own statement on energy matters.
India has increased its intake of Russian oil in recent years, though China remains a larger buyer. It’s worth noting that the Trump administration had previously imposed tariffs on India’s Russian oil imports. The current trade discussions in Washington are significant, especially following the new US ambassador’s recent engagements with Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Modi.