U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “assured” him India would stop purchasing oil from Russia, describing it as a “big step.” Trump clarified that this would not happen immediately, calling it “a little bit of a process.” However, the Indian government has neither confirmed nor endorsed that assurance. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that India’s energy policy is driven by securing stable supplies and protecting consumers, not by external diktats.
Meanwhile, Russia expressed confidence that its energy partnership with India would continue, signaling that Russian officials see no pivot underway. Market reactions also reflected uncertainty: after Trump’s statement, oil prices rose ~1 % on speculation that India might join a wider shift away from Russian crude. In sum: Trump’s claim is unverified; India has not committed to halting Russian imports; and the purported “promise” should not be taken at face value until official confirmation emerges.
