Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil, as part of US efforts to tighten economic pressure on Moscow with the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Modi had assured him that India would halt its oil imports from Russia within a short period of time, describing it as ‘a big stop.’ A spokeswoman for the Indian Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the remarks. The development comes as part of Trump’s wider push to isolate Russia economically, though New Delhi has long defended its energy trade with Moscow as vital to its national interests.
Trump added that, “Now I’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” noting that his administration is also urging Beijing and other nations to curb Russian oil imports. Trump acknowledged that India could not immediately end its reliance on Russian crude but said the process would be completed soon. India has been one of Russia’s largest oil buyers alongside China and Turkey, benefiting from discounted prices since the start of the Ukraine conflict.
The US administration has imposed steep tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods, including a 25 percent penalty for transactions with Russia. Trump has described the tariffs as punishment for New Delhi’s continued trade with Moscow in both oil and defence equipment.
Despite recent tensions, Trump praised Modi as a great man, saying the two leaders have maintained an open dialogue. Modi, for his part, said last week that he had spoken with Trump and that they had reviewed good progress achieved in trade negotiations.
Indian officials have criticised Washington’s stance as a double standard, pointing out that several Western nations continue to trade with Russia. India has repeatedly stressed its neutral position in the conflict, emphasising its need for affordable energy to sustain the world’s fifth-largest economy.
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