US President Donald Trump has once again warned that India could face “massive tariffs” if it continues purchasing oil from Russia. Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured him that India would stop such imports.
Trump Claims Modi Gave Assurance
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “PM Modi told me, ‘I’m not going to be doing the Russian oil thing.’ But if they keep doing it, they’ll be paying massive tariffs.”
When asked about the Indian government’s statement that it was unaware of any recent conversation between him and Modi, Trump responded, “If they want to say that, then they’ll just continue to pay massive tariffs — and they don’t want to do that.”
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The remarks follow Trump’s earlier comments in the Oval Office, where he claimed Modi had assured him India would stop buying Russian crude oil, describing it as “a big step.” Trump added that the transition would occur “within a short period of time,” calling it “a little bit of a process.”
Reiterates Remarks During Meeting With Zelensky
Reinforcing his statement during a bilateral lunch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said, “Well, India is not going to be buying Russian oil anymore.”
India Denies Any Recent Modi-Trump Communication
Hours after Trump’s comments, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that no recent phone call had taken place between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump.
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MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s oil imports are driven by national interest and market conditions. “Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing and diversifying energy sourcing as appropriate to meet market conditions,” Jaiswal stated.
He further emphasized that India remains committed to diversifying its energy basket to safeguard consumer interests amid a volatile global energy environment.
