Trump: Modi to halt Russian oil, urges China to follow

President Donald Trump shared some big news today: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told him personally that India will stop buying oil from Russia. Trump called it a major step that could hurt Russia's efforts in the Ukraine war. He made the comments during a White House briefing with FBI Director Kash Patel.

"He's assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia," Trump declared, responding to questions from ANI. "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." T

rump, who imposed punitive tariffs on India earlier this year over its discounted Russian crude imports, expressed relief and optimism. "Yeah, sure. He's a friend of mine. We have a great relationship... I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That's a big stop. Now we've got to get China to do the same thing."

• Trump Says Modi Will End Russian Oil Imports, Urges China to Follow
• India to Stop Buying Russian Oil, Trump Hails “Major Step” Against Russia
• US-India Relations: Modi’s Oil Decision Could Impact Russia-Ukraine War, Trump Claims

This promise apparently came up in talks just days ago, including a chat between Modi and Trump's pick for US ambassador, Sergio Gor. Trump praised Modi, saying, "I have watched India for years. It's an incredible country... and my friend has been there now for a long time." He even took credit for preventing a bigger India-Pakistan conflict in the past, claiming he stopped a nuclear disaster that could have killed millions after some planes were shot down.

Tying it to Ukraine, Trump called the war "ridiculous" and unnecessary, now in its fourth year. He said Russia has lost 1.5 million people, mostly soldiers, and blasted Putin for the ongoing deaths. "If India stops buying oil, it weakens Russia big time. All Putin has to do is end this—stop the killing on both sides." He blamed deep hatred between Putin and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy for dragging it out.

India buys a ton of oil—it's the third-biggest importer globally—and turned to Russia after the 2022 invasion when prices dropped due to sanctions. It caused some friction with the US, even as the two countries team up on defense and tech. Trump's words suggest things are warming up, maybe lifting those tariffs.

New Delhi hasn't commented yet, but experts say it's a win for Trump's deal-making approach. "They'll stop now and maybe buy again after the war," Trump joked.

Also Read: China Looks to Strengthen Ties with France in Key Talks

As the US pushes for peace in Ukraine, this shows Trump's personal touch in diplomacy—straight talk to build alliances. Next up: pressuring China on the same issue. The world's energy game just got more interesting.