- Russian oil imports were at the center of trade tensions between India and the United States.
- U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to stop Indian purchases of Russian oil “within a short period.”
- The U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports in August, citing India’s oil trade with Russia as support for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- India is the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, though it has not confirmed Trump’s claims regarding future imports.
- Recent data shows that Indian crude imports from Russia decreased by 8.4% year-on-year between April and September 2025.
Tensions over Russian oil imports have played a major role in trade relations between the United States and India. President Donald Trump announced at the White House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to stopping India’s imports of Russian oil “within a short period of time.” Trump called the decision a significant move towards ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump told reporters, “I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.” India has yet to officially confirm this commitment. Currently, India remains Russia’s second-largest oil customer after China.
In August, the U.S. introduced tariffs of 50% on Indian goods in response to India’s ongoing purchases of discounted Russian crude. Trump described the tariffs as punishment for India’s unwillingness to comply with U.S. sanctions on Russia.
Officials in New Delhi have defended their oil purchases, stating that discounted Russian oil helps stabilize India’s energy prices and economic growth. According to market research firm Kpler, Russia supplied about one-third of India’s oil imports in September, at roughly 1.6 million barrels per day.
India’s imports of Russian crude dropped 8.4% year-on-year during the six-month period ending September 2025. Meanwhile, U.S. oil exports to India grew by 6.8%, reaching around 213,000 barrels per day. Brent crude oil prices were reported at $62.39 per barrel—up 0.78%.
No further details have been released by Indian government officials regarding changes to oil sourcing policy. India maintains that securing affordable, stable energy remains vital to its national interests.
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