Trump Claims Modi Has Agreed to Halt Russian Oil Imports Amid Heightened US Pressure

Published: 16 October 2025 .The English Chronicle Desk

In a statement that could have far-reaching implications for global energy markets and geopolitical alliances, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil “within a short period of time.” The move, Trump said, would represent “a big stop” in Washington’s ongoing effort to deprive Moscow of vital energy revenues used to sustain its war in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Trump said he had received personal assurances from Modi during recent discussions. “We’ve been talking to India for a long time about this,” Trump said. “Prime Minister Modi understands the importance of standing with the United States and the free world. This will be a big stop—one of the biggest.”

The comments mark the latest attempt by the Trump administration to use economic leverage to influence India’s foreign policy and to isolate Russia from the global energy trade. However, New Delhi has so far been cautious about severing its energy ties with Moscow, citing domestic economic stability and consumer interests.

An Indian government spokesperson, responding to Trump’s remarks, said that discussions with Washington were “ongoing,” while reaffirming India’s sovereign right to pursue an energy policy based on national interest. “Our consistent priority is to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective,” the spokesperson said.

India remains one of the largest importers of Russian crude oil, alongside China and Turkey. These three nations have continued buying discounted Russian energy since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, providing Moscow with a critical financial lifeline despite Western sanctions.

President Trump suggested that his administration’s next focus would be Beijing. “Now I’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” he told reporters, reinforcing his administration’s broader agenda to cut off Russia’s energy revenue streams.

Beijing, however, dismissed Trump’s remarks. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said China maintains “normal, legitimate economic, trade, and energy co-operation with countries around the world, including Russia,” indicating no intention to bow to U.S. pressure.

The Kremlin, in turn, defended its energy exports and accused Washington of undermining global trade norms. “If countries are prevented from buying Russian crude, then the principles of free trade are being violated,” a Russian official said, emphasizing that Moscow continues to offer “good quality oil at a lower price” to willing buyers.

Washington’s pressure campaign is not limited to India and China. The Trump administration has also called on Japan to halt oil and gas imports from Russia. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that he had communicated this expectation directly to visiting Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato during talks in Washington on Wednesday.

Despite Trump’s announcement, analysts say it will be difficult for India to rapidly shift away from Russian crude, which accounts for a significant portion of its energy imports. President Trump himself acknowledged that the process would take time, stating, “India cannot immediately stop oil shipments. It will be a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon.”

Since returning to office, Trump has taken an increasingly confrontational stance toward India’s trade policies, imposing 50% tariffs on Indian goods as part of what he calls a “corrective measure” for Delhi’s continued engagement with Russia. The tariffs—among the highest in the world—include an additional 25% penalty for transactions involving Russian energy and defense products, which the administration argues are directly funding the Kremlin’s war machine.

For months, the issue of Russian oil has strained relations between Washington and New Delhi, two nations that have otherwise strengthened defense and technology cooperation in recent years. Prime Minister Modi has maintained that India’s position remains neutral in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy over confrontation.

Indian officials have criticized the Trump administration’s stance as hypocritical, pointing to ongoing Western trade with Russia in certain sectors despite U.S.-led sanctions. “India is being unfairly targeted for doing what many European countries are still doing,” one senior Indian diplomat was quoted as saying. “We act based on our national interest, not external political pressure.”

Russia has become one of India’s most important energy suppliers since the start of the Ukraine war, offering oil at heavily discounted rates that have helped cushion the Indian economy from global price shocks. Economists warn that cutting off Russian oil could significantly impact India’s inflation levels and consumer energy costs, posing challenges for Modi’s government ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Despite the friction, both leaders have continued to express mutual respect publicly. “Prime Minister Modi is a great man,” Trump said on Wednesday. “He’s done an incredible job for India.” Modi, for his part, said last week that his conversation with Trump was “productive and forward-looking,” noting that both sides had “reviewed the good progress achieved in trade negotiations.”

Diplomatic observers say the coming months will reveal whether India will, in fact, reduce or halt its Russian oil purchases—or whether Trump’s latest statement is part of a broader pressure campaign aimed at reshaping the global energy order. What remains clear is that the intersection of energy politics, trade disputes, and great power rivalry is once again reshaping the contours of U.S.-India relations.

— The English Chronicle Online