Daijiworld Media Network, Washington

Washington, Oct 16: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him that India will stop buying oil from Russia — a move Trump described as a “big step” in efforts to economically isolate Moscow.

“So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump told reporters during a White House event. “That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”

The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to emailed queries regarding whether PM Modi had made such a commitment to the US President.

If implemented, India’s decision to halt Russian oil imports could mark a significant turning point in global energy diplomacy. Washington has been intensifying efforts to curb Moscow’s oil revenues amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

As one of Russia’s major energy customers, India’s withdrawal from Russian crude could reshape global energy trade flows and influence other nations still importing Russian oil. Trump’s statement underscores his approach of leveraging bilateral relationships to enforce economic isolation of Moscow, rather than relying solely on multilateral sanctions.