Former U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that India will face “massive tariffs” should it continue its practice of purchasing oil from Russia. He reiterated his belief that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously given assurances that New Delhi would halt its Russian oil imports.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, October 19, 2025, Mr. Trump emphasized that India would “continue to pay massive tariffs” if they do not stop buying oil from Russia, adding, “they don’t want to do that.”
Mr. Trump’s remarks came in response to questions about India’s recent statements regarding its oil procurement strategy. Just last week, India publicly stated its commitment to “broad-basing and diversifying” its energy sourcing to adapt to market conditions.
This statement by India followed earlier claims by Mr. Trump that Prime Minister Modi had personally assured him New Delhi would cease procuring Russian crude oil. However, Mr. Trump dismissed India’s recent comments, stating, “But I don’t believe they said that. No, I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he’s not going to be doing the Russian oil thing.”
Washington has consistently argued that India’s ongoing purchases of Russian crude oil are effectively helping to finance Russia’s war efforts.
The relationship between New Delhi and Washington has been under considerable strain, particularly after Mr. Trump significantly increased tariffs on Indian goods, imposing a hefty 50% duty, which included an additional 25% specifically for India’s imports of Russian crude oil.
India, in turn, has characterized the U.S. actions as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”