India is buying crude oil from Russia despite the sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries on Russia during the Russia-Ukraine war. Due to which the US imposed a tariff on India in August.
SNPNEWS.IN News Update (Gurmail Kamboj): The war between Russia and Ukraine started on 24 February 2022, in this war the US and Western countries are supporting Ukraine. After the war started, the US and Western countries imposed trade and economic sanctions on Russia, but many European countries are indirectly buying gas from Russia.
India was exporting 50000-80000 bpd of oil daily from Russia since 2014, which reached 1.5-2.1 million bpd after the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war.
India’s oil exports from Russia have been 1.7-2.0 million bpd since the start of US President Donald Trump’s second term, which fell to 1.5 million bpd in August 2025 and 1.42 million bpd in early October 2025. According to the data, Russia is still India’s largest oil supplier.
In August 2025, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on India for buying Russian oil (which has now increased to 50%), but India said that it would continue to buy from Russia because it is economically beneficial. According to reports, if India stops buying oil from Russia, its import bill could increase by $9-12 billion, and world oil prices would also increase.
US President Donald Trump announced on 15 October 2025 that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would stop buying oil from Russia. “I was not happy that India was buying Russian oil, and Modi assured me today that he will not buy oil from Russia,” Trump said at the White House.
He called it a “big step” in putting economic pressure on Russia to end the Ukraine war. Trump said it may not happen immediately, but the process will be completed soon, and India can trade with Russia again after the war is over. He also called Modi “my brother” and “a great man”, and said that India and the US have a great relationship.
There was no official statement from India after Trump’s statement, and India did not appear to directly oppose or support Trump’s statement.