Trump says PM Modi assured him India will stop buying Russian oil
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US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him India would cease purchasing oil from Russia, a move Trump described as a "big step" in isolating Moscow economically.
During a White House event, Trump said that he was not happy that India was buying oil and had been assured that India would not be buying oil from Russia. He added that it was a big step and that now the United States would work to get China to do the same thing.
Trump acknowledged that India could not halt shipments immediately, calling it “a little bit of a process, but that process will be over soon.”
The Indian embassy in Washington has not yet responded to questions on whether PM Modi actually made such a commitment.
If India were to stop buying Russian oil, it could mark a significant turning point in global energy diplomacy. Washington has been seeking to cut Moscow’s oil revenues amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Such a move by one of Russia’s top energy customers could also influence other nations still importing Russian crude.
Trump’s comments highlight his approach of using bilateral relationships to enforce economic isolation on Moscow, rather than relying solely on multilateral sanctions.