U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil, marking a potential shift in global energy trade as Washington intensifies efforts to cut off Moscow’s revenues from crude exports. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Modi assured him that India would stop buying Russian oil “within a short period of time,” adding that his next goal is to persuade China to follow suit.
“So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump said. “That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
The statement follows months of tension between Washington and New Delhi over India’s continued energy ties with Moscow. Trump recently imposed tariffs on Indian exports to the U.S. in an effort to discourage the purchases, arguing that they help sustain Russia’s war in Ukraine. India and China currently rank as the top two buyers of Russian seaborne crude, taking advantage of heavily discounted prices after European nations cut off imports and Western sanctions tightened.
India has long defended its oil trade with Russia as essential for national energy security. In September, Russia supplied about 1.62 million barrels of crude per day to India—roughly one-third of its total imports—making Moscow its largest oil partner. A decision to stop buying would mark a significant geopolitical shift, signaling reduced reliance on Russian energy and strengthening India’s alignment with the United States.
Trump acknowledged that India’s withdrawal would not happen overnight. “It’s a little bit of a process, but that process will be over soon,” he said, suggesting phased changes in India’s import structure. The Indian Embassy in Washington has not yet confirmed whether Modi formally committed to the move.
If implemented, the shift could reshape global oil flows and further isolate Russia from key energy markets. Trump’s remarks come amid renewed diplomatic pressure to force Moscow toward a negotiated peace in Ukraine, with Washington increasingly using trade relationships as leverage.
