US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated that India would no longer buy oil from Russia. Trump repeated his claims amid his efforts to pressure Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Speaking at the White House during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump said New Delhi had already “de-escalated” its purchases from Moscow.
Trump repeats claims that India will stop buying Russian oil
“India will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump said. “They’ve already de-escalated.” However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs clarified that there had been no phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump regarding Russian oil purchases. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “I am not aware of any conversation yesterday between the two leaders.”
While talking about India, Trump also mentioned Hungary, which relies heavily on Russian oil. He said Hungary is “in a tough spot” because it has only one old pipeline and no access to the sea, making it hard to get oil. “India is not going to be buying Russian oil anymore, and Hungary is sort of stuck because they have one pipeline that’s been there for years, and they’re inland; they don’t have sea, and I spoke with their leader… but India will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump said.
Trump praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a “very great leader” and said he plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks. “They already de-escalated and more or less stopped. They are pulling back. They bought about 38 per cent of the oil, and they wouldn’t be doing it anymore,” he added.
Trump claims PM Modi assured him
Earlier in the week, Trump had said that Prime Minister Modi had “assured” him that India would stop buying oil from Russia. He called this “a big step” and said he hoped China would follow suit. Trump described Modi as a close partner, saying, “He’s a friend of mine. We have a great relationship.” He also criticised India’s previous oil imports from Russia, claiming they helped fund President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
India, on the other hand, claimed that its energy decisions are based on national interests and the protection of Indian consumers. The MEA said, “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.”
The ministry added that India relies on twin goals of stable energy prices and secured supplies, adding that energy sourcing decisions are made to meet market conditions and ensure broad diversification.
During the White House meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump also spoke about ending the war in Ukraine. He suggested Kyiv and Moscow should “stop where they are” and end the conflict immediately. He said, “You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing, and that should be it.”
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said that negotiations and ceasefire talks are crucial. He emphasised that Ukraine’s position is not about personal animosity but about defending the country against aggression.