US President Donald Trump once claimed on Saturday (25 October 2025) that India has completely cut oil imports from Russia. He said that this step of India is a big step towards strategic partnership with America. However, India has earlier rejected all such claims and clarified that the decision to purchase oil is based on its national interests and not on external pressures.

The Trump administration said that economic and financial sanctions are being imposed on these companies to prevent the Russian energy sector from funding the war machine. These sanctions include freezing the assets of two Russian companies Rosneft and Lukoil in the US, barring American citizens from any financial transactions with them and appealing to global partner countries to maintain trade distance with them. The move is a direct hit to Russia’s economy as Rosneft and Lukoil control about 45% of Russia’s total oil exports.

What is India’s stance on Russian oil?

Soon after Trump’s claim, Indian Foreign Ministry sources once again reiterated that India will continue to buy crude oil from Russia as it is an important part of energy security and cheap supply. India says that unless there is an official ban at the United Nations (UN) level, no country can stop it from buying oil from a particular seller.

An official of India’s Energy Ministry said on condition of anonymity that our priority is to ensure that India gets cheap and stable oil. We cannot compromise with our interests. Trump has earlier also claimed that India will gradually stop buying oil from Russia, but India’s purchase figures show that Russia is still India’s largest crude oil supplier, ahead of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Trump’s next diplomatic move

Trump also said during his announcement that he expected a full trade deal when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. He said that we will also talk about fentanyl (a deadly drug) and agricultural trade. It is killing many Americans and it comes from China. This meeting is taking place at a time when tension between America and China is at its peak regarding technical restrictions, trade balance and raw material supply chain.

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White House advisor Peter Navaro once again targeted the oil purchase from India’s Russia, but this time his post was added to the X (East Twitter) fact-checking the community notes. After this, Navaro erupted and lashed out a scathing attack on Alan Musk.

Navaro alleged that India is buying oil only to earn profit and strengthen Russia’s war machine. However, X users surrounded them factually and told that India’s oil imports are associated with energy security and do not violate any international ban. This time X users fact-checked their claim and wrote in the community note that India’s oil import from Russia is not only for profit, but for energy security. It also said that the deal does not violate any international ban.

Navaro told this community note ‘garbage’

The note also further added, “Although India imposes some tariffs, America gets business surplus in services with India. At the same time, the US itself imports some goods from Russia, which reflects its dual policy.” Navaro attacked Allen Musk, calling this community note “garbage” and alleged that he was allowing ‘publicity’ to enter the posts of the people.

Navaro again attributed India to India

Navaro again held India responsible for buying oil from Russia, saying, “This note is completely nonsense. India is buying oil from Russia only for profit. Russia-Ukraine used to do not do this before war. The spin machine of the Indian government is working fast. Stop killing Ukrainians, American jobs are being stripped.”

India rejected the allegations of Navaro

India has dismissed the allegations of American White House Advisor Peter Navaro outright and described him as baseless and misleading. Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing that India’s oil import from Russia is completely associated with energy security and global supply balance, not for any political or military reasons. He said that India’s energy policy is based on the status and national interests of the global market.

Trump imposed 50% tariff on India

The dispute has come to light at a time when recently US President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Indian imports. Trump had alleged that India’s oil purchases were helping Russia for the Ukraine War. He even said that India and Russia are going closer to China. Trump wrote on social media, “It seems that we have lost India and Russia to China. Hopefully their future is good.”

Trump claims that India is currently the highest oil purchasing country from Russia, while the US stopped oil imports from Russia after the commencement of Ukraine War. At the same time, India says that its oil imports do not violate any international ban and it is necessary to keep the global energy market stable. India has made it clear that its priority is to meet energy needs as well as protect its national security and strategic needs.

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