Kremlin Says No Official Word From India on Halting Russian Oil Purchases

Moscow: The Kremlin has said it has not received any official communication from India regarding a halt in the purchase of Russian oil, following recent claims made by US President Donald Trump.

Speaking to journalists, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow had not received any formal statement from New Delhi on the matter. “So far, we have not received any notification from India,” he said.

The statement comes a day after President Trump announced a trade agreement with India, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged to stop purchasing Russian oil due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Trump said the agreement included a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent. Previously, reciprocal tariffs of up to 25 percent had been imposed on several Indian products, along with an additional 25 percent duty linked to India’s imports of Russian oil.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western sanctions have forced Moscow to sell its crude oil at discounted rates. As a result, India significantly increased its imports of Russian oil.

Ukraine and its Western allies have been seeking to cut off this major source of revenue for Russia’s economy and military, aiming to block billions of dollars in earnings.

Prime Minister Modi thanked President Trump for the phone call and the easing of tariffs but made no reference to any commitment to stop buying Russian oil.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier pledged the “uninterrupted supply” of oil to India during his visit in late 2025.

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