A claim by Donald Trump that he was “assured” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India would stop buying Russian oil has been met with firm rebuttals from both New Delhi and Moscow.
Speaking at the White House, Trump stated, “he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia.” This sparked immediate speculation about a major shift in India’s energy policy.
However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) quickly issued a clarification. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal asserted that India’s energy imports are “guided entirely” by the objective of “safeguarding the interests of the Indian consumer.”
Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov also weighed in, stating that Russian oil supplies are “very beneficial” for the Indian economy. He respected India’s independent decision-making, while implicitly dismissing Trump’s claim.
In a move seen as reinforcing the partnership, Alipov simultaneously announced a major defense push, offering India co-production of the Su-57 fighter jet and other advanced military technologies, underlining the deep strategic ties between the two nations.