New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has reiterated his claim that India has agreed to limit its imports of Russian oil, warning that New Delhi would face “massive tariffs” if it continues buying crude from Moscow. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he had recently spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, according to him, assured that India would “not be doing the Russian oil thing.”
India, however, has firmly rejected the claim, stating that no such conversation took place between the two leaders. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that it was unaware of any recent call and reaffirmed that India’s energy purchases are guided solely by its national interests and the goal of ensuring affordable energy for its citizens.
The remarks come amid heightened US pressure on countries that maintain energy ties with Russia. Washington argues that continued oil trade with Moscow helps fund its war effort in Ukraine. India has emerged as the largest buyer of discounted Russian crude since Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Trump has previously imposed steep duties on Indian exports, with tariffs reaching as high as 50 percent on a broad range of goods and an additional 25 percent on any transactions linked to Russia. He suggested that these tariffs could remain or even increase if India does not comply with US demands. “If they want to say there was no call, then they’ll continue paying massive tariffs and they don’t want to do that,” Trump said.
While a White House official recently claimed that India has reduced its Russian oil imports by half, Indian officials disputed that assessment, saying no immediate decline has been observed. Data from commodities analytics firm Kpler shows India’s imports of Russian crude are expected to rise nearly 20 percent this month to around 1.9 million barrels per day, as Russia increases exports following drone attacks on its refineries.
Indian refiners have already placed orders for November and December shipments, suggesting that any visible reduction in imports if it occurs may only reflect in trade data later this year or early 2026.
