Trump Asserts India Halts Russian Oil Purchases Amid Tensions

US President Donald Trump has stated that India will cease its oil purchases from Russia, claiming that New Delhi has “de-escalated” its procurement activities. During a bilateral lunch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 10, 2023, Trump emphasized that India has “more or less stopped” buying oil from Moscow.

In response to a question, Trump noted that India had purchased approximately 38 percent of its oil from Russia prior to this shift, but he suggested that those transactions would come to an end. This statement follows India’s announcement that it is “broad-basing and diversifying” its energy sources to adapt to market conditions.

Tensions have risen between Washington and New Delhi, particularly after Trump increased tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, which includes a 25 percent additional duty on Indian purchases of Russian crude oil. India has criticized these actions as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” Washington has accused India of assisting Russian President Vladimir Putin in financing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine through its oil purchases.

Claims of Mediation in India-Pakistan Relations

Trump also reiterated his past claims regarding his involvement in mediating peace between India and Pakistan, asserting that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged his role in saving “millions of lives.” Trump stated, “The Prime Minister of Pakistan said I saved millions of lives by interceding… you look at Pakistan and India as an example that would have been a bad one for two nuclear nations.”

Since announcing on social media on May 10, 2023, that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after a “long night” of talks mediated by the US, Trump has frequently referenced his perceived contribution to resolving the conflict.

India maintains that the understanding to cease hostilities with Pakistan was achieved through direct negotiations between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. Following a series of military operations, including Operation Sindoor on May 7, India launched strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for an attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

A ceasefire was reached on May 10, 2023, after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. The evolving dynamics between India, Pakistan, and the US continue to shape the geopolitical landscape in South Asia, reflecting the complexities of international relations amid ongoing global tensions.