US President Donald Trump has reiterated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to scale back purchases of Russian crude, a claim that India has yet to confirm. Speaking during Diwali celebrations at the White House, Trump said Modi assured him that India “was not going to buy much oil from Russia” and “wants to see the war end with Russia-Ukraine.”
#WATCH | “India, as you know, has told me they are going to stop… It’s a process. You can’t just stop. By the end of the year, they’ll be down to almost nothing, almost 40% of the oil.”
Donald Trump repeats claim India will cut Russian oil imports by year-end.#DonaldTrump… pic.twitter.com/tMvTTL6SAd
— Moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom) October 23, 2025
Modi acknowledged the phone call in a social media post but made no mention of oil imports. India’s foreign ministry previously said it was “not aware” of any such call and declined further comment after Trump’s latest remarks.
India became a top buyer of discounted Russian oil following Western sanctions on Moscow in 2022, citing energy security for its population. Washington has since imposed 50% tariffs—including a 25% penalty, on Indian goods as pressure to curb those imports. Trade talks between the two nations continue, with reports suggesting India may agree to a gradual reduction.
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