New Delhi – India has firmly refuted claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him of halting the country's purchase of Russian oil. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that no such conversation took place between the two leaders.

The rebuttal follows Trump's statement made on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, where he claimed that Prime Minister Modi had given him assurances that India would cease its oil imports from Russia. Trump, during a press conference at the Oval Office, said he "was not happy that India was buying oil" and that Modi "assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia". He further added that getting India to stop buying Russian oil was "a big step" and that he would try to persuade China to do the same.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue during a weekly press conference, stating that he was "not aware of any conversation yesterday between the two leaders". He clarified that the last phone call between Modi and Trump occurred on October 9.

The MEA also issued a statement emphasizing India's energy sourcing policies. "India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective," Jaiswal stated. The spokesperson highlighted that ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies are the "twin goals" of India's energy policy. This includes diversifying energy sources to adapt to market conditions.

India has been under pressure from the U.S. to reduce its reliance on Russian oil, particularly since the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war. Washington's stance has been that restricting Moscow's energy revenues would impede its ability to continue the conflict. India, however, has maintained that its oil imports are guided by national interest, energy security, and market economics. The government has repeatedly stated it will continue to purchase Russian oil as long as it remains economically viable.

Amidst the controversy, the MEA has confirmed ongoing discussions with the U.S. to enhance energy cooperation and increase energy procurement from America. "Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing," the MEA spokesperson said.

Trump's initial claim followed a recent increase in tariffs imposed by the U.S. on India. In August, the U.S. increased tariffs on Indian goods, citing India's Russian oil imports.

Opposition leaders have criticized the Prime Minister following Trump's remarks. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that PM Modi seemed "frightened" of the U.S. President.