Washington: The White House on Thursday claimed that India has begun reducing its oil imports from Russia following a direct request from U.S. President Donald Trump, as part of Washington’s broader campaign to restrict Moscow’s war funding.
During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “If you see and read the sanctions on Russia, they are pretty hefty,” referring to new U.S. sanctions imposed on Rosneft and Lukoil—Russia’s two largest oil companies—announced earlier this week.
Leavitt added, “I saw some international news that suggests China is scaling back oil purchases from Russia; we know that India has done the same at the request of the President.” She said Washington has also pressed its European allies to follow suit as part of what she called a ‘full-court press’ to cut off Moscow’s key revenue streams amid the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict.
For the past few days, U.S. officials have maintained that India assured President Trump it would significantly reduce its imports of Russian crude. However, New Delhi has repeatedly clarified that its energy policy is determined by national interests, prioritizing affordable and secure energy supplies for its population.
According to U.S. assessments, India’s continued oil purchases from Moscow have helped finance President Vladimir Putin’s war efforts in Ukraine.
Tensions between New Delhi and Washington have heightened after President Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, including an additional 25 percent duty on imports linked to Russian crude purchases. India denounced the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
Leavitt also noted that President Trump had long signaled his intent to act firmly against Russia, stating that “yesterday was that day.” She said Trump has often voiced frustration with Putin’s lack of effort toward a peace settlement in Ukraine.
A planned meeting between Trump and Putin in Hungary later this year has been postponed indefinitely, though Leavitt added that such a meeting “is not completely off the table” and “can happen again one day.”
