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India has raised doubts regarding claims made by President Trump that PM Modi had agreed to cease buying Russian crude oil.

The US President's Claims and India's Response

On Wednesday, Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Modi had given him assurances “today” that the Indian government would discontinue its purchase of oil from Russia.

“I was not happy that India was purchasing crude, and he [Modi] has guaranteed me on this day that they will cease purchasing oil from Russia. Understandably, you can’t do it immediately. There is a procedural aspect, but the transition is going to be over with soon,” the former president told reporters.

Nevertheless, in a media conference on Thursday, Indian officials seemed to contradict the US president’s account, clarifying that there was “no telephonic conversation between PM Modi and President Trump the previous day”.

Background of Indo-Russian Ties and Oil Acquisitions

The South Asian nation, which upholds a close ties with the Kremlin, has emerged as one of the largest purchasers of Russian crude since the invasion of the Eastern European country.

This has become a significant source of contention with the United States in the past few months, after Trump failed to secure a peace deal with Moscow.

• In August, the US president imposed some of his highest tariffs on India to sanction its procurement of Russian oil.
• He accused Delhi of contributing funds to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
• India is facing additional 25% import tariffs, on top of a base of 25%.

India's Stance and Oil Policy

India has consistently maintained its position, asserting it would not let the US determine its energy needs or meddle in its relationship with Russia, which dates back to the Cold War era.

Moscow remains the primary source of arms to India.

Just before Trump's remarks, the administration in New Delhi said discussions with the US over commerce and import duties were ongoing.

A official communication by the Indian ministry of external affairs said the main goal was to “protect the well-being of the citizens of India in a volatile energy scenario” and that all strategies were guided by the necessity to broaden and secure India’s energy sources.

Benefits and Consequences

India has reaped significant benefit from its purchase of cut-price crude from Russia since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, establishing itself as one of its leading buyers globally, second only to the Chinese market.

However, it has resulted in a significant decline in bilateral ties between Washington and New Delhi.

The White House has frequently alleged Indian leadership of bankrolling the Russian president, Vladimir Putin’s actions against the Ukrainian state, labeling the conflict as “Modi’s war”.

However, on Wednesday the US president praised enthusiastically of the Indian prime minister. “Modi is a great man. He loves Trump,” he remarked.