The report reflects a public diplomatic difference between the United States and India over New Delhi’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil, driven by two key developments: a public claim by President Donald Trump and a subsequent clarification by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Here are the full details of the exchange and India’s stated policy:

1. President Trump’s Claim

On Wednesday, October 15, 2025 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given him an assurance that India would stop buying oil from Russia.

• The Claim: Trump stated, “I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he [PM Modi] has assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop. You know, you can’t do it immediately. It’s a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon.”
• The Context: The U.S. has been pressuring India to reduce its Russian oil purchases, arguing they indirectly fund Russia’s war in Ukraine. The matter is closely linked to ongoing trade negotiations, with the U.S. having recently imposed an additional 25% tariff (bringing the total to 50%) on Indian imports, citing the Russian oil trade as a contributing factor.

2. India’s Response: MEA Rejects the Claim and Reaffirms Policy

The next day, Thursday, October 16, 2025, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement that effectively rejected the claim by the U.S. President.

Direct Rejection of Conversation

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that he was “not aware of any conversation yesterday [Wednesday] between the two leaders.” This directly contradicted the President’s assertion that PM Modi had assured him that day.

Reaffirmation of Sovereign Energy Policy

The MEA issued a formal statement on India’s energy policy, emphasizing that its decisions are driven solely by national interest and the needs of Indian citizens.

• Twin Goals: “Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy.”
• Indian Consumer Priority: “It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.”
• Policy of Diversification: The statement noted that India is “broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.”

The statement, therefore, asserted that no external pressure, including from the U.S., would dictate India’s sovereign energy choices.

Position on U.S. Energy Cooperation

While rejecting the pressure to halt Russian purchases, the MEA also noted that India is actively looking to expand its energy ties with the U.S.

• “Where the U.S. is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement… The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing.“

Background: India’s Russian Oil Purchases

• Before 2022: Russia was a minimal supplier of crude oil to India.
• Post-2022: India became one of the largest buyers of Russian seaborne crude, second only to China, taking advantage of steep discounts offered after Western sanctions were imposed.
• Current Status: Russia is now India’s largest single oil supplier. India’s government and state-owned refiners consistently maintain that they will continue to purchase Russian oil as long as it is economically viable and serves the nation’s energy security needs.