White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that India has committed to ending its purchases of Russian oil and will instead source crude oil from the United States, potentially from Venezuela under the newly announced trade agreement between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Leavitt stated that following direct talks between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, New Delhi agreed not only to halt purchases of Russian oil but also to increase imports of American energy.
She added that India may also consider buying oil from Venezuela, a move she said would benefit the American economy.
Earlier Trump said that the US and India “have agreed to a trade deal” with Washington reducing the reciprocal tariff from 25 per cent to 18 per cent “out of friendship and respect” for PM Modi.
In his Truth Social post, Trump referred to his conversation with PM Modi earlier in the day, noting that the Prime Minister was one of his closest friends and a powerful, respected leader of India.
The US President also claimed that PM Modi had agreed to “stop buying Russian oil.
Following Trump’s post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on X, said it was wonderful to speak with his “dear friend President Trump” and expressed delight that “Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%”.
“Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,” PM Modi wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the sensitive sectors of India’s economy, particularly agriculture and dairy, have been protected in the India-US trade deal.
In turn, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated: “Moscow has still not heard any statements from New Delhi about its refusal to buy Russian oil”.
