India will no longer purchase Russian oil, according to President Donald Trump, a major victory in his effort to pressure Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
“I was not happy that India was buying oil, and [Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “That’s a big step.”
A spokesperson for the Indian embassy did not immediately reply to requests for confirmation but, if true, it would amount to a major deescalation of U.S.-India tensions that surfaced this summer after the U.S. slapped 50 percent tariffs on the country because of its purchases of Russian oil.
It also comes ahead of a possible meeting between Trump and Modi at a summit of Southeast Asian countries in Malaysia this month.
“[Modi] can’t do it immediately, it’s a little bit of a process, but the process will be over with soon,” the president added later in the news conference, adding that “Modi is a great man, he loves Trump.”
Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on India this summer after the two countries failed to reach an initial trade agreement, which he followed up with an additional 25 percent because of the country’s purchases of Russian oil. India chafed at the move because no other top purchasers of Russian oil, like China or Turkey, were similarly hit with tariffs.
Earlier Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested the administration may hit China with increased tariffs if Europeans agree to do the same, accusing China of “fueling the Russian war machine.” Speaking in the Oval, Trump urged China to join India in its boycott.
The announcement comes just days after Trump’s new pick for Indian ambassador, Sergio Gor, met with Modi, where the two discussed defense, trade and technology issues. The appointment of Gor, a close confidant to Trump, was widely seen as a positive move among supporters of the U.S.-India bilateral relationship.
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