The Kremlin says it has received no official word from New Delhi about halting Russian oil purchases, contradicting a claim by US President Donald Trump.
MOSCOW: The Kremlin said on Tuesday it had received no official indication from India that it would stop buying Russian oil, contradicting a claim made by US President Donald Trump.
Trump said he had struck a deal to reduce tariffs on Indian goods and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to stop purchasing Russian oil over the war in Ukraine.
“So far, we haven’t heard any statements from New Delhi on this matter,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
While Modi thanked Trump for the “wonderful” phone call and the easing of tariffs, he made no reference to Trump’s assertion about halting oil purchases.
India’s purchases of discounted Russian oil have surged since Russia launched its full-scale military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.
In 2024, Russia supplied nearly 36% of India’s total crude imports, around 1.8 million barrels per day.
Trump said he was cutting levies on Indian goods to 18%. He had previously imposed 25% “reciprocal” tariffs on many products, plus an additional 25% for New Delhi’s purchases of Moscow’s oil.
After Trump hit New Delhi with those tariffs, India’s monthly oil imports from Russia plunged by 38%, according to local media reports citing official data.
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised “uninterrupted shipments” of oil during a visit to New Delhi in late 2025.
Bilateral trade between the two sides reached USD 68.7 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, almost six times higher than pre-pandemic levels.
This trade is dominated by Moscow’s energy sales, with Indian exports to Russia accounting for under USD 5 billion.
Ukraine and its Western allies have been seeking to cut off the billions in oil revenue, a vital source of income for Russia’s stretched economy and its military.
