New Delhi: India on Thursday rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that he had a recent telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the Indian leader allegedly assured that India would stop buying oil from Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that no such conversation had taken place between the two leaders.
Responding to questions on the matter, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Regarding the comment from the US on the energy issue, we have already issued a statement, which you can refer to. As for the telephonic conversation, I can say that there has been no discussion between the Prime Minister and President Trump.”
The clarification came after Trump, speaking at the White House, claimed that he had spoken with PM Modi earlier in the day and that India had agreed to end Russian oil imports. During his remarks, Trump referred to PM Modi as “a great man” and described India as “an incredible country,” also suggesting that the two might meet during the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
Trump stated, “He assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. You can’t do it immediately it’s a process but the process will be over soon.” He added that such a move would help ease tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Introducing the newly appointed US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, Trump expressed optimism about US–India relations, calling for stronger cooperation between the two nations.
Following the US President’s remarks, the Indian government reaffirmed that its energy import decisions are based solely on national interest and the needs of Indian consumers, not on external political pressures. “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. Our consistent priority is to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy market,” the MEA said in a written statement.
The ministry further highlighted that India’s energy policy is guided by two main goals — ensuring stable prices and maintaining secure supply lines. It also reiterated that India continues to expand its energy partnership with the United States, noting that cooperation in the sector has grown steadily over the past decade and that discussions for deeper engagement remain ongoing.
