US President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will stop buying oil from Russia, signaling a potential shift in global energy trade. Trump added that he plans to encourage China to take similar steps as Washington seeks to curb Moscow’s oil revenues.
India and China are the largest buyers of Russian seaborne crude, benefiting from discounted prices after Europe largely stopped purchasing Russian oil due to US and EU sanctions following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Trump has recently targeted India for its continued purchases of Russian oil, imposing tariffs on Indian exports to the United States. The president said these measures aim to pressure Moscow to negotiate a peace settlement with Ukraine.
“So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump said during a White House event. “That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately confirm whether Modi made such a commitment.
Russia is India’s largest oil supplier, exporting 1.62 million barrels per day to India in September 2025, accounting for roughly one-third of the country’s oil imports. For months, India resisted US pressure, citing national energy security as the reason for continuing purchases.
Trump acknowledged that halting shipments is not immediate. “It’s a little bit of a process, but that process will be over soon,” he said, stressing that the pledge represents a major step in limiting Moscow’s energy revenue.
A move by India to stop importing Russian crude could reshape global markets and influence other nations still buying from Russia. Trump aims to use bilateral relations, rather than relying solely on multilateral sanctions, to economically isolate Moscow.
Despite his push on India, Trump has not applied similar pressure on China. Ongoing US-China trade tensions complicate efforts to demand that Beijing halt Russian energy imports, with the administration cautious about escalating diplomatic disputes.
Trump’s announcement follows a series of US measures targeting countries that continue to import Russian oil, including tariffs and diplomatic pressure. Analysts say any action by India to stop purchases could signal a turning point in the effectiveness of US efforts to reduce Moscow’s energy income.
The pledge, if implemented, could have significant implications for global energy markets, Moscow’s economy, and US foreign policy objectives. Officials in Washington are closely monitoring India’s compliance with the commitment as part of broader efforts to coordinate international pressure on Russia.
