U.S. President Donald Trump has once again cautioned India regarding its purchases of Russian oil, stating that the country could face significant tariffs until it halts such imports. Trump previously claimed that India had agreed to continue buying Russian crude, a statement strongly denied by the Indian government.
In a recent media interaction, Trump was asked about India’s rejection of his earlier comments. He responded that India would still be liable for substantial tariffs if it continued importing Russian oil but expressed confidence that India would not proceed in that direction. Last week, Trump reportedly discussed the issue at the White House, expressing dissatisfaction over India’s ongoing Russian oil imports and claiming he had promised to stop such purchases, though he had not directly spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
President Trump says India will have to "keep paying lot of tariff" if it buys Russian energy; Restates that PM Modi said "he will not be doing Russian oil thing" pic.twitter.com/4VQT9lSr9j
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) October 20, 2025
India’s Ministry of External Affairs clarified that no such conversation took place between Trump and Modi, emphasizing that the government prioritizes protecting the interests of its citizens in energy procurement.
In parallel, U.S.-India trade discussions have reportedly resolved most differences, with Indian officials indicating that several positive decisions could be announced in the coming days. Last week, a delegation led by Union Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington for bilateral talks. Despite this, Trump’s recent remarks warning India on Russian oil imports have once again drawn attention and sparked debate.
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