Donald Trump: India Has Promised To Stop Buying Oil From Russia
- 16.10.2025, 8:08
The U.S. president wants to get China to do the same.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, October 15, that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised him to stop buying Russian oil. According to Trump, this will happen "in a short period of time."
"I was unhappy that India was buying (Russian. - Ed.) oil, and he (Modi. - Ed.) assured me today that they will not buy oil from Russia," the American president told reporters at the White House.
Trump called the promise a "big step." "Now we want to get China to do the same," Reuters quoted him as saying.
In April 2025, Russian oil supplies to India rose to an estimated 2.15 million bpd, a record high since May 2023. Reuters noted at the time that Russia remained India's top oil supplier for the third consecutive year, with its share of imports reaching 36%. Oil prices from Russia after the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine are attractive for Indian refiners, writes "Deutsche Welle".
On July 14, Trump threatened to impose secondary duties of 100% against Russia's trading partners if no agreement on peace in Ukraine is reached in the next 50 days (until September 2). On July 29, the American president reduced that deadline to 10 days, and the next day imposed duties of 25% against India, including for trade with Russian Federation. "India (...) is the largest buyer of energy from Russia along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine," Trump explained.
July 31, it became known that four state-owned refineries in India had suspended their purchase of oil from Russia. Within a week, Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical, which had previously regularly purchased Russian oil, had no interest in buying it, Reuters reported. However, the day before, Indian media citing government sources reported that refineries in India, including state-owned IOC, BPCL and HPCL, continue to buy Russian crude.