Trump claims India will stop buying Russian oil; New Delhi and Moscow react

United States President Donald Trump on Thursday triggered a fresh controversy in India by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him India would stop buying oil from Russia, its all-weather friend.

Trump said: “Modi is a great man. India is an incredible country. Every single year, there is a new leader in India, but my friend has been there now for a long time, and he has assured me there will be no oil purchases from Russia.”

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“He (Modi) is a great friend of mine. I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia; that’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing,” he added, indicating his focus is now shifting from India to China, on whom he has already announced imposing increased tariffs.

Trump’s remarks provided fresh ground to the Opposition to attack the PM. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Indian PM is afraid of the US President. He posted on X: “PM Modi is frightened of Trump. 1. Allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil. 2. Keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs. 3. Canceled the Finance Minister’s visit to America. 4. Skipped Sharm el-Sheikh. 5. Doesn’t contradict him on Operation Sindoor.”

The two remarks have now led the Ministry of External Affairs to issue a statement. While the MEA spokesperson, in his post on X, did not categorically refute the US President’s claim, he did say that India’s energy import policies are guided by the interests of the domestic consumer, adding the policy includes broad-basing energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate.

Here’s the full statement: “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective. Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions. Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing.”

Russia has also reacted to Trump’s statement, stating while Moscow doesn’t not interfere in any country’s independent decision-making, the Russian oil supplies are very beneficial for the Indian economy and its people.

“India-Russia relationship has always been equal, uninterrupted and mutually beneficial, qualities that make its upward trajectory irreversible. India and the US are independent in their decisions, and we do not interfere in those issues… Our oil supplies are very beneficial for the Indian economy and the welfare of the Indian people,” Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov said at the 25th anniversary event of India-Russia Strategic Partnership.