Washington / New Delhi, October 20, 2025:US President Donald Trump has reiterated his warning that India could face heavy tariffs if it continues purchasing oil from Russia, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured him that New Delhi would halt such imports.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump stated, “Prime Minister Modi told me, ‘I’m not going to be doing the Russian oil thing.’ But if they keep doing it, they’ll be paying massive tariffs.”
When asked about India’s reported denial of any recent communication between the two leaders, Trump replied, “If they want to say that, they’ll just continue to pay massive tariffs — and they don’t want to do that.”
The remarks follow Trump’s earlier statement from the Oval Office on Wednesday, where he asserted that Modi had promised to stop buying Russian oil, calling it “a big step.” He elaborated that the transition would not be immediate but would occur “within a short period of time,” describing it as “a bit of a process.”
During a bilateral luncheon with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump reiterated, “India is not going to be buying Russian oil anymore.”
India Denies Any Recent Call Between Modi and Trump
Hours after Trump’s comments gained global attention, New Delhi dismissed reports of any recent conversation between the two leaders.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), clarified that India’s energy imports are determined by market dynamics and national interests, not by external pressure.
“I am not aware of any recent phone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump,” Jaiswal said. “Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies has been the twin focus of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing and diversifying our sources to suit evolving market conditions.”
The MEA emphasized that India remains committed to energy security and affordability, particularly amid a volatile global energy market shaped by ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Trump’s renewed pressure on India comes amid the United States’ continuing efforts to isolate Russia economically over its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. India, one of the world’s largest oil importers, has consistently maintained that its oil purchases from Russia are guided by national interest and energy security considerations, rather than geopolitical alignments.
Analysts note that Trump’s comments — particularly his repeated references to tariff threats — signal a possible shift in Washington’s diplomatic tone toward New Delhi, even as the two nations continue to deepen cooperation in defence and technology sectors.
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