US President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed reports that state-run refineries in India may have stopped buying Russian oil, describing it as a “good step,” although he admitted he was not certain whether the claim was accurate.
Speaking to reporters, Trump responded to a question about whether he would consider penalties or engage directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard. I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens,” he said.
His remarks come amid heightened US pressure on countries that continue purchasing Russian oil, part of Washington’s efforts to restrict Moscow’s revenue streams as the war in Ukraine continues.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, has remained a major buyer of discounted Russian crude since Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow in 2022.
The Donald Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports on July 30, alongside additional penalties. Trump cited India’s continued oil purchases from Russia and longstanding trade barriers as key reasons for the measure.
Reports on Thursday suggested that major state refiners, including Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum, have stopped buying Russian crude because discounts have narrowed and shipping has become more challenging. The Indian government has not officially confirmed the move.
Trump’s latest comments come days after he criticised New Delhi, calling India and Russia “dead economies” in a strongly worded social media post following the imposition of tariffs.
“I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,” Trump wrote.
In response, the Indian government defended its long-standing ties with Moscow. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, described the partnership as “steady and time-tested,” while also reaffirming confidence in the continued strength of India-US relations despite current tensions.
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