President Donald Trump has said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil, as the US seeks to put economic pressure on the Kremlin as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters that he had received assurances from Modi that India would halt its purchases 'within a short period of time', which he called 'a big stop'.
A spokeswoman for the Indian embassy in Washington DC declined to comment. The US president has been leveraging India’s purchases of Russian oil in his trade conflicts, leading to a diplomatic rift, despite India's significant reliance on these imports.
Oil and gas are Russia's primary exports, with major customers including China, India, and Turkey. Trump emphasized the need to get China to follow suit on halting oil purchases from Russia, indicating a broader strategy of cutting off Moscow's energy funding.
While India cannot 'immediately' stop Russian oil shipments, Trump noted that the transition will be 'a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon'. This initiative is underscored by the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on Indian goods as part of its efforts against foreign reliance on Russian commerce.
Modi has maintained that India’s position is neutral regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict despite ongoing trade with Russia. The situation will likely continue to evolve as both nations navigate this intricate geopolitical landscape.
Trump told reporters that he had received assurances from Modi that India would halt its purchases 'within a short period of time', which he called 'a big stop'.
A spokeswoman for the Indian embassy in Washington DC declined to comment. The US president has been leveraging India’s purchases of Russian oil in his trade conflicts, leading to a diplomatic rift, despite India's significant reliance on these imports.
Oil and gas are Russia's primary exports, with major customers including China, India, and Turkey. Trump emphasized the need to get China to follow suit on halting oil purchases from Russia, indicating a broader strategy of cutting off Moscow's energy funding.
While India cannot 'immediately' stop Russian oil shipments, Trump noted that the transition will be 'a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon'. This initiative is underscored by the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on Indian goods as part of its efforts against foreign reliance on Russian commerce.
Modi has maintained that India’s position is neutral regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict despite ongoing trade with Russia. The situation will likely continue to evolve as both nations navigate this intricate geopolitical landscape.
