Indian refineries are preparing to cut Russian oil imports, expecting a gradual reduction in volumes, three sources told Reuters.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him that India would stop purchasing oil from Russia, which is a major source of imported oil for India.
In a statement by India's Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, ensuring stable energy prices and supply security did not mention Trump's remarks on Russian oil purchases. However, the ministry noted that New Delhi is negotiating to expand energy cooperation with the U.S.
Indian officials are in Washington for trade talks as the U.S. has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to pressure Delhi to reduce Russian oil imports.
Agency sources said it would be difficult to immediately stop purchasing Russian oil, as a sudden switch to other oil grades would lead to a rise in global prices and a threat of increased inflation.
In April-September, the first six months of the current fiscal year, India imported 1.75 million barrels of Russian oil per day, with its share dropping to about 36% of India's total oil imports from 40% in the same period a year earlier, government data shows.
Indian crude oil imports from the U.S., on the other hand, rose by 6.8% year-on-year to approximately 213,000 barrels per day, accounting for 4.3% of total imports.
The share of Middle Eastern oil in the six months to September 2025 rose from 42% to 45%.
India and China are the two largest buyers of Russian oil transported by sea, taking advantage of discounts that Russia was forced to accept after European buyers stopped purchases, and the U.S. and European Union imposed sanctions on Moscow for invading Ukraine in February 2022.
India's decision to stop imports will signal a significant shift in the position of one of Moscow's largest energy clients and could change the balance of power for other countries that still import Russian oil. Trump wants to use bilateral relations for Russia's economic isolation, rather than relying solely on multilateral sanctions.
Photo: Reuters