Washington: US President Donald Trump has reiterated his assertion that India has agreed to significantly reduce its crude oil purchases from Russia, aiming to bring them down to “almost nothing” by the end of the year. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described the reduction as a process that will take some time.
India’s Commitment to Cut Russian Oil Imports: Trump
“India, as you know, has told me they are going to stop [buying Russian oil]… It’s a process. You can’t just stop overnight,” Trump said on Wednesday. “By the end of the year, they’ll be down to almost nothing, almost 40% of the oil.” He also mentioned that he had spoken with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the previous day and praised India’s cooperation, calling it “great.”
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India and China are the two largest importers of Russian crude oil, and both countries’ continued purchases have been a point of contention with the United States. The Biden administration and Washington policymakers have accused India of indirectly helping Russian President Vladimir Putin finance the ongoing war in Ukraine through these imports.
Tensions Over US Tariffs
Relations between New Delhi and Washington remain strained following the U.S. decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, including an additional 25% tariff specifically targeting India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. The Indian government has condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” highlighting the deepening trade tensions between the two countries.
Trump defended his tariff policies, asserting that they have strengthened the U.S. economy. “We are doing so well as a country right now because of tariffs,” he stated. “Without tariffs, the U.S. would become a third-world country… With tariffs, we are a rich, secure country; without them, we would be a laughing stock.”
Upcoming Talks with China’s Xi Jinping
Looking ahead, Trump said he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea later this month. One of his key discussion points will be persuading China to also reduce its Russian oil imports, which would mark a significant shift given China’s position as a major buyer of Russian crude.
Trump characterized the China-Russia relationship as “a little bit different” from India’s, noting that the two countries were historically not close allies. He claimed that former U.S. administrations, including those of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, forced China and Russia closer together due to energy policies. “By nature, they can’t be friendly… I hope they are friendly, but they can’t be,” he added.
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Claiming Credit for Indo-Pak Peace
In addition to his comments on oil and tariffs, Trump reiterated his long-standing claim that he helped bring about peace between India and Pakistan following their recent military conflict in May 2025. “I told the two countries, ‘If you want to fight, that’s okay. But you’re going to pay tariffs.’ Two days later, they called up and said they’re not going to fight anymore,” he said.
India, however, has consistently maintained that the ceasefire understanding was achieved through direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, without external mediation.