Russia Says India Has Not Confirmed Oil Decision

US President Donald Trump has announced a new trade agreement between the United States and India, claiming that under the deal, India will cease purchasing oil from Russia. As part of the agreement, Trump has also indicated that import duties on Indian goods will be reduced to 18 per cent.

However, Russia has clarified that India has not formally communicated any decision regarding the cessation of Russian oil purchases. The Russian government has emphasised that no official statements have been received from New Delhi on the matter.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday (3 February),

“We have not heard any official declaration from New Delhi regarding this issue. While we respect India–United States bilateral relations, we also place significant importance on the development of Russia–India strategic relations. This remains a priority for us, and we wish to continue advancing our bilateral ties with India.”

Earlier on Tuesday, according to Bangladesh Standard Time, Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social, announcing the trade agreement with India. In his statement, he claimed that India had agreed to reduce its reliance on Russian oil and would instead source oil from the United States and potentially Venezuela.

Trump said,

“Prime Minister Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil. In exchange, India will purchase oil from the United States and, possibly, Venezuela. This step could help end the war in Ukraine, which continues to claim thousands of lives every week.”

Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded via social media, sending greetings to Trump on behalf of India’s 1.4 billion citizens. Modi’s statement, however, did not provide any confirmation or detailed clarification regarding India’s stance on Russian oil purchases.

Analysts suggest that Trump’s announcement may be politically motivated, given that Russia has not received any formal notification from India. The situation highlights the complex dynamics of international trade and diplomacy, where strategic and economic interests intersect.

The following table summarises the key points of the ongoing situation:

Observers note that India is likely to carefully balance its strategic relationship with Russia while expanding economic and energy ties with the United States. Any official confirmation from New Delhi on oil procurement will be closely watched by international markets.