President Donald Trump has said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil, as the US seeks to put economic pressure on the Kremlin as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Trump told reporters he had received assurances from Modi that India would halt its purchases 'within a short period of time,' which he described as 'a big stop.' A spokeswoman for the Indian embassy in Washington DC would not comment.

Oil and gas are Russia's biggest exports, and key customers include China, India, and Turkey. 'Now I've got to get China to do the same thing,' Trump stated, as part of his administration's strategy to cut off Moscow's energy funding. The U.S. is also urging Japan to stop importing oil and gas from Russia, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent communicating this expectation to visiting Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato.

Trump acknowledged that India cannot 'immediately' halt oil shipments, mentioning that the process would take some time but is expected to conclude soon. The Trump administration has imposed significant tariffs on goods from India, a move Trump has labeled punitive for India's continued engagement with Russia regarding oil and weapons.

Modi, emphasizing India's neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has resisted pressure regarding crude oil purchases, which he argues are essential for India's economy. The ongoing dispute over oil has strained relations, yet Trump praised Modi as a 'great man' during their discussions, with Modi noting recent progress in trade negotiations.