India casts doubt on Donald Trump’s claim Narendra Modi will stop buying Russian oil

India's Foreign Ministry said it was “not aware” of the phone call in which US President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to stop buying Russian oil.

On Wednesday Trump said his Indian counterpart “assured me today” that this would end Russian oil importsIt is a move sought by the US as it seeks to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine.

However, when asked about the call on Thursday, an Indian government spokesman questioned Trump's account, saying he was “not aware of any conversation between the two leaders” the day before.

The Indian government had previously said that negotiations with the US over purchases of Russian oil were still “ongoing”.

It comes after a White House spokesman confirmed to the BBC that Trump plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Thursday.

India has become a key energy consumer for Russia since the war began, partly allowing the Kremlin to counter the pressure of Ukrainian allies cutting imports of oil and gas, the country's largest export market.

The Trump administration has put public and diplomatic pressure on India to end its support for the Russian energy market as it seeks to increase the Kremlin's economic isolation and bring about an end to the war. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said he received assurances from Modi on Wednesday that India would end its purchases “within a short period of time.”

In its initial response, the Indian government did not directly dispute the conversation between Trump and Modi. It said: “Our continued priority is to protect the interests of the Indian consumer in an uncertain energy scenario. Our import policy is fully guided by this goal.”

The Indian government's second response on Thursday raises further questions about whether an agreement has been reached between Washington and New Delhi.

BBC News has contacted the White House and State Department for comment.

Delhi's continued dependence on Russian crude oil, which it imports at a discount, has become a key source of friction in US-India relations under the Trump administration, which took a tougher stance on the war in Ukraine after Putin failed to negotiate a peace deal with the White House.

India is second only to China in importing Russian energy, the financing of which is helping to prevent the collapse of Russia's crucial fossil fuel industry.

The Modi government accused Ukraine's allies of hypocrisy, pointing to continued trade with Russia, including energy imports into the European Union, albeit at reduced levels.

In its latest round of sanctions, unveiled this week, The UK government said it would target a major Indian oil refinery. as it “continues to facilitate the delivery of Russian oil to world markets.” Indian company Nayara Energy Limited imported 100 million barrels of Russian crude oil, worth more than $5 billion (£3.75 billion), in 2024 alone, officials said.

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