US President Donald Trump has claimed that India will stop buying Russian oil as part of a new trade deal with Washington. But Moscow isn’t convinced—and says New Delhi hasn’t told it anything of the sort.
The Kremlin on Tuesday pushed back on Trump’s remarks, saying there has been no official communication from India about halting Russian oil purchases, despite the announcement of a tariff-related agreement between India and the US.
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What Trump claimed
Trump on Monday unveiled what he called a new trade deal with India, promising lower reciprocal tariffs and wider access for American goods. Alongside that, he claimed India would stop importing Russian oil and significantly ramp up purchases from the US.
India, however, has only confirmed one part of that story so far—the tariff cut.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the reduction in tariffs after a phone call with Trump, but New Delhi has made no public statement about pausing or ending oil imports from Russia.
Kremlin’s response: No confirmation from India
Reacting to Trump’s comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia had not received any indication from India about stopping oil purchases.
“So far, we haven’t heard any statements from New Delhi on this matter,” Peskov was quoted as saying.
He added that Russia continues to value its long-standing relationship with India and remains committed to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, regardless of US-India ties.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak echoed that view, saying Moscow had only seen public remarks and would wait to see how things unfold. He also pointed out that demand for Russian energy remains strong globally.
Why Russian oil matters to India
Since the Ukraine war began in 2022, India has emerged as the largest buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude. The cheaper oil helped India manage fuel costs and inflation at a time when global energy prices were volatile.
That move, however, drew criticism from Western countries, especially the US, which has imposed sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to limit its ability to fund the war.
The tariff angle and unanswered questions
A White House official told HT that an additional 25% punitive tariff linked to India’s Russian oil imports would be dropped if India stopped buying that oil. This would bring the final tariff rate down to 18%.
India has confirmed the 18% tariff—but not the condition attached to it.
That silence has raised questions in political and economic circles. The Congress party has demanded full details of the India-US trade deal, including claims about zero tariffs, opening up agriculture markets, and the reported pause on Russian oil imports.
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Economic risks flagged
Ratings agency Moody’s has warned that an abrupt halt to Russian oil imports could hurt India’s economy.
A sudden shift away from Russian crude could tighten global supply, push prices higher, and fuel inflation—especially risky for a country that is one of the world’s largest oil importers.
Bottom line
For now, Trump says India is moving away from Russian oil. Russia says it hasn’t heard that from India. And India itself hasn’t confirmed anything beyond tariff cuts.
Until New Delhi clearly spells out its position, the future of India’s Russian oil imports remains an open—and closely watched—question.
FAQs
No. India has confirmed the tariff reduction under the US trade deal but has not made any official statement about stopping Russian oil imports.
Donald Trump said India would halt purchases of Russian oil and sharply increase imports of American goods as part of the new India–US trade agreement.
The Kremlin said it has not heard anything from New Delhi about stopping oil purchases and stressed that Russia values its strategic partnership with India.
India became the largest buyer of discounted Russian crude after 2022, helping keep fuel prices stable and manage inflation during global energy volatility.
Yes. Moody’s has warned that an abrupt halt could tighten global supply, raise oil prices, and add inflationary pressure on India’s economy.
