Trump Secures India’s Promise to Halt Russian Oil Imports

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to cut off all Russian oil imports until the war in Ukraine comes to an end a massive diplomatic victory in Trump’s broader effort to choke off Vladimir Putin’s war machine and bring the conflict to a close.

“I was not happy that India was buying oil,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “And [Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step.”

According to Trump, the commitment marks the beginning of a full phase-out of Indian oil imports from Russia, and though the process won’t be immediate, it’s already underway. Trump told reporters the oil purchases would resume only after the war ends a major blow to Russia’s financial pipeline and a sign of India’s growing alignment with the United States under Trump’s leadership.

The move comes after months of strategic pressure from the Trump administration, including a 50% tariff on Indian goods in August half of which was explicitly aimed at punishing India’s purchases of Russian oil and military hardware. At the time, New Delhi had dismissed U.S. pressure, insisting it would continue to seek “the best deal.”

That position has now shifted.

• Russia relies on oil exports for more than 30% of its federal budget, and India has been one of its top buyers since Western sanctions took effect.

• In 2023, India imported roughly 1.7 million barrels per day of Russian crude a number that surged after Biden’s weak sanctions policy left loopholes.

• With India stepping back, China remains Russia’s largest oil buyer, and Trump made clear. “Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”

It’s part of a broader pivot in Trump’s approach to the Ukraine conflict. After previously calling on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate peace, Trump is now applying direct pressure to Putin’s economic base cutting off revenue by turning away Russia’s top energy customers.

“All we want from President Putin is to stop this, stop killing Ukrainians and stop killing Russians,” Trump added. “If India doesn’t buy oil, it makes it much easier.”

Trump’s critics once claimed he was too soft on Putin. Now, with Modi on board and China potentially next, those voices are being drowned out by results.

And let’s not forget, this breakthrough comes while Joe Biden has spent three and a half years watching the war escalate without a single tangible diplomatic achievement. Under Biden, the U.S. has sent over $113 billion in taxpayer dollars to Ukraine with no end in sight. Trump, in contrast, is leveraging economic might and global relationships to isolate Moscow and force negotiations without draining American wallets or escalating military conflict.

Modi’s agreement to pause oil imports during wartime may well prove to be a turning point in the Ukraine war and a serious foreign policy win for President Trump. With Zelensky scheduled to visit the White House on Friday, further breakthroughs may be on the horizon.

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