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New Delhi, Thursday — India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has flatly denied former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called him to say India would stop buying Russian oil.
“There was no phone call between the two leaders yesterday,” an MEA spokesperson said, rejecting Trump’s comments made during a White House media briefing the previous day.
Trump’s Claim Sparks Diplomatic Firestorm
On Wednesday, Trump told reporters that PM Modi had personally assured him India would halt purchases of Russian crude — calling it “a big step” toward isolating Moscow.
“He assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing,” Trump claimed.
He added that he had expressed displeasure with India’s continued oil imports from Russia, saying:
“I was not happy that India was buying oil… it helps fund Putin’s war.”
India’s Firm Response: “Guided by National Interest”
India immediately rebuffed Trump’s statement. The MEA said that no such conversation occurred and reiterated that the country’s energy decisions are guided solely by consumer and national interests.
“Ensuring stable energy prices and securing supplies are the twin objectives of India’s energy policy,” the MEA clarified.
India has long argued that it imports Russian oil to keep domestic fuel prices stable, especially amid global volatility caused by Western sanctions.
Russia Backs India’s Stand
The Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, backed New Delhi’s position, stating that India’s cooperation with Moscow aligns with its own national interests.
“This is a question for the Indian government. Our cooperation in energy is very much in tune with those interests,” Alipov said.
Political Fallout in India
Trump’s comments triggered domestic political backlash in India.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of being “subservient to Washington” and claimed he appeared “frightened of Trump.”
Gandhi also alleged that Modi had failed to contradict Trump’s previous remarks on other issues, such as the “Operation Sindoor” controversy and the Gaza conflict statements.
Washington’s Pressure Campaign
The U.S. has been pressing India to reduce its dependence on Russian crude, which accounts for nearly one-third of India’s oil imports.
Trump, during his presidency, often criticized India for “funding Moscow’s war machine,” and even threatened tariffs up to 50% on Indian goods if New Delhi continued its Russian energy trade.
These tensions have stalled U.S.–India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) talks, with both sides now seeking to restart discussions.
A Tale of Two Realities
The episode has left analysts calling the situation “bizarre.”
Trump’s “White House briefing” reference appears chronologically inconsistent, as he is not currently the U.S. President — raising serious doubts about the veracity of his claim.
Meanwhile, India maintains its independent stance: it will continue to buy oil from wherever it secures the best deal, guided by domestic needs, not foreign pressure.