United States President Donald Trump says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying oil from Russia, in what he described as a major step toward cutting Moscow’s revenue amid the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters at the White House that Modi had assured him India would end its Russian oil imports “within a short period of time,” calling it “a big stop.”
The Indian embassy in Washington declined to comment on the statement.
The move, if confirmed, marks a shift in India’s trade position, as Delhi has continued to buy discounted Russian crude since the war began, despite Western pressure.
“Now I’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Wednesday, adding that his administration is also urging Japan to halt energy imports from Russia.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had discussed the issue with Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato, stressing Washington’s “expectation” that Tokyo would follow suit.
Trump acknowledged that India could not immediately stop the imports, saying the process “is going to be over with soon.”
His administration has also imposed 50 percent tariffs on goods from India as part of a broader trade dispute, which he described as punishment for buying Russian oil and weapons. The tariffs, introduced in August, include a 25 percent penalty for transactions linked to Russia.
Despite the tensions, Trump praised Modi as a “great man,” noting that both leaders recently reviewed progress in trade negotiations.
India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, has long argued that its energy ties with Russia are based on national interest, maintaining a neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
