‘Good Step’ Trump Welcomes Reports of India Halting Russian Oil Imports
US President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed reports that India’s state-run refineries have halted the purchase of Russian oil, describing the potential move as a “good step” even while admitting he was unsure if the information was accurate. The comment marks a significant softening of his tone just days after he imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods, partly due to New Delhi’s energy ties with Moscow.
Responding to a reporter’s question about the recent tariffs and his plans for engaging with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said, “I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That’s what I heard. I don’t know if that’s right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens.” His remarks come amid intense US pressure on countries to curb Russian revenue streams during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This development follows reports on Thursday that major Indian state refiners, including Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum, and Bharat Petroleum, had stopped buying Russian crude due to narrowing discounts and logistical challenges. The Indian government has not yet officially confirmed this shift in policy. Since 2022, India has been a major buyer of discounted Russian oil after Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow.
Trump’s latest comments stand in stark contrast to his harsh criticism earlier this week. After announcing the 25% tariff on July 30, he had launched a blistering attack on social media, referring to India and Russia as “dead economies” and stating, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.”
In response to that tirade, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had defended its “steady and time-tested partnership” with Moscow while also expressing confidence that its relationship with the United States would continue to move forward despite the current trade tensions
