(MENAFN) India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded on Thursday to a statement made by US President Donald Trump, in which he claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would cease purchasing oil from Russia.

Speaking to the media, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated he was “not aware” of any such conversation between the two leaders.

Earlier the same day, the Indian government released an official statement highlighting that its key priority in terms of energy trade is safeguarding the interests of domestic consumers amidst an unpredictable global energy landscape.

The ministry emphasized that its oil import strategies are determined strictly by this objective. Furthermore, it noted that India has been boosting its energy imports from the United States and that ongoing talks aim to enhance bilateral cooperation in this sector.

While speaking to journalists at the White House on Wednesday, President Trump claimed that Modi “assured” him India would end its purchases of Russian crude.

“I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he [Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing,” he remarked.

Since 2022, India has significantly ramped up its oil imports from Russia, despite increasing diplomatic pressure from Washington and its Western partners.

As per data from Kpler, Russian oil made up 34% of India’s total crude imports in September.

The Indian government has consistently defended these acquisitions, citing the importance of energy security for the country.

By the end of September, Russia remained India’s largest oil supplier, delivering close to a third of its total crude needs—approximately 1.6 million barrels per day—according to maritime tracking data referenced by media agencies.

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