Moscow has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that India agreed to stop buying Russian crude oil as part of a broader trade agreement between Washington and New Delhi. The Kremlin stated that it has not received any formal notification from India regarding a decision to abandon purchases of Russian oil, directly contradicting Trump’s public comments.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that, as of Tuesday, Moscow had heard no statements from New Delhi about ceasing oil imports from Russia. He emphasized that Russia values its strategic partnership with India and intends to continue developing bilateral relations across multiple sectors, including energy.
Trump, speaking after announcing a new trade pact with India, had claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to halt purchases of Russian crude and would instead increase energy imports from the United States and potentially from Venezuela. According to Trump, this shift was a key component of the agreement, which also includes reduced tariffs on Indian exports to the U.S. — from punitive levels imposed over trade disputes to lower rates intended to expand bilateral commerce.
However, Russian officials made clear that no such communication regarding a halt to oil imports has been received from the Indian government. Peskov noted that Russia is closely monitoring news on the subject and continues to respect the development of U.S.–Indian relations, while giving equal importance to Moscow’s longstanding energy cooperation with New Delhi.
India itself has not publicly confirmed Trump’s claims regarding an agreement to end Russian oil imports. New Delhi’s position on its energy strategy remains focused on securing stable and affordable supplies for its large and growing economy, and any decision to alter long-term contracts with Moscow would require careful planning and transition.
