U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India will stop buying oil from Russia — though the transition, he said, would take some time.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said:

“They [India] will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop … Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing.”

He acknowledged that the shift would not be instantaneous, emphasizing there would be “a little bit of a process” without offering a specific timeline.

India’s Response & Strategic Constraints

India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded that energy import decisions are made to protect consumers by ensuring stable energy prices and securing supply. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that New Delhi’s priority is to “safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.” He added that policy decisions are “guided entirely” by that goal.

India has already been under pressure over its continued imports of Russian crude. Trump has previously imposed up to 50% tariffs on Indian goods, partly in response to these energy ties.

Market & Supply Impacts

News of India’s intended shift lifted oil prices modestly. Brent crude futures rose about 0.82%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate added 0.89%.

Indian refiners have reportedly begun preparations to cut Russian oil imports gradually. Source insiders told Reuters that some state-owned refiners are already reducing reliance on Russian crude.

Despite this, India remains one of Russia’s top oil customers. Reports from trade analytics firm Kpler estimate India currently takes about 1.7 million barrels per day of Russian crude, second only to China.

Geopolitical & Energy Strategy Dynamics

The announcement reflects the delicate balancing act India continues to perform between diplomatic alignment and energy security. While the U.S. pushes for a full break from Russian energy supplies, India must contend with affordability, supply stability, and internal market pressures.

Observers caution that transitioning away from Russian oil will take time, especially given contracts, infrastructure, and alternative supply limitations. Any abrupt cessation could raise domestic energy costs and fuel instability.

Trump said India’s change would help restrict Russia’s revenue streams amid the war in Ukraine. He added that after promising India would stop, “we will get back to Russia after the war is over.”