US President Donald Trump said it would be a “good move” if India really stopped buying oil from Russia, although he was not sure if the news was true.
When asked by news agency ANI, if he had any specific plans to talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or impose any penalties, Trump replied, “I heard that India is not going to buy oil from Russia anymore. I don’t know if that’s true. But if it is, it’s a good step. Let’s wait and see what happens.”
Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that India’s energy purchases are guided by market dynamics and national interests, adding that the government is unaware of any specific developments regarding Indian oil companies pausing Russian imports.
These remarks come at a time when the US is putting more pressure on countries to stop trading with Russia, especially in oil, as part of its efforts to cut off money going to Moscow during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
India is the world’s third-largest buyer of oil and has been purchasing cheaper oil from Russia ever since Western countries put sanctions on Moscow in 2022.
But according to media reports, Indian government-run oil companies have now temporarily stopped buying Russian oil. This is mainly because the discounts are not as big as before, and there are problems with shipping. However, the Indian government has not officially confirmed this yet.
Trump’s comment came after a week of strong criticism of India. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump criticized India for its high tariffs and tough trade rules. He also pointed out that India continues to buy oil and weapons from Russia.
In response, the White House announced a 25 per cent tax on all goods exported from India to the US. They also said there would be an extra “penalty” because of India’s ongoing energy trade with Russia.
Reacting to these developments, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, stood by the country’s close relationship with Russia. He said India and Russia have a strong and steady partnership built over many years. He also said India’s relationship with the US is based on shared interests, democratic values, and strong ties between their people. Jaiswal added that he is confident the two countries will continue to work closely together, even during this tough time.