In a significant development, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally guaranteed India would cease purchasing Russian oil. This claim, yet to be verified by the Indian government, aligns with Trump’s broader strategy to exert pressure on Moscow to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. ‘There will be no oil. He’s not buying oil,’ Trump stated, adding that the transition would not be immediate but would occur ‘within a short period of time.’ The Indian embassy in Washington has not yet commented on the matter. Trump has been vocal about his frustrations over the prolonged war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s invasion nearly four years ago. He has increasingly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling him as the main impediment to peace. Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. India, the second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China, faced U.S. tariffs in August as part of Trump’s efforts to curb its economic ties with Russia.
Trump claims India will stop buying Russian oil, escalating pressure on Moscow over Ukraine war
