The US President said India’s oil purchases had indirectly helped sustain Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying the continued trade “lets Russia carry on with this ridiculous war where they’ve lost a million and a half people.”
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him New Delhi would stop buying oil from Russia, calling it “a big step” in his push to isolate Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he had flagged concerns with PM Modi about India’s continued imports of Russian crude, which Washington believes help fund President Vladimir Putin’s war. “I was not happy that India was buying oil,” Trump said.
“He (PM Narendra 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,” he added.
Trump also said that PM is a close partner despite friction over energy policy. “He’s (PM Narendra Modi) a friend of mine. We have a great relationship,” Trump said when asked if he saw India as a reliable partner amid tensions with China.
However, New Delhi has not confirmed Trump’s claim that India will halt Russian oil imports.
Trump said securing Modi’s assurance was part of his diplomatic push to cut off Moscow’s energy revenue. “Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” he said, adding that pressuring Beijing would be “relatively easy compared to what we just did over the last week in the Middle East.”
