### Russia Dismisses Trump's Claims on India's Oil Imports Amid Trade Deal Discussions In a recent exchange of statements, Russia has firmly rejected claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding India's oil import policies. Trump asserted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to halt Russian oil imports as part of a new trade agreement between India and the United States. However, the Kremlin has emphasized that India retains the freedom to purchase oil from any supplier, including Russia, and has not received any official communication from India indicating a cessation of Russian oil imports. This situation arises in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions and energy market dynamics, particularly as India seeks to diversify its oil sources while maintaining its relationship with Russia. ### Breakdown of Claims and Responses 1. **Trump's Assertion**: - President Trump claimed that PM Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead invest in Venezuelan oil as part of the India-U.S. trade deal [https://news24online.com/world/modi-govt-gives-big-update-on-donald-trumps-claim-on-india-stopping-russian-oil-after-us-trade-deal-says-our-top-priority-is/736229]. 2. **Kremlin's Rebuttal**: - The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, stated that India is free to buy oil from any country and has always diversified its oil suppliers [https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/india-is-free-to-buy-oil-from-any-country-kremlin]. - Russia has not received any official notification from India regarding a halt in oil imports [https://www.india.com/news/india-free-to-buy-oil-from-any-supplier-russia-reacts-after-donald-trump-says-india-stopped-importing-c]. 3. **India's Oil Import Statistics**: - In December 2025, India imported approximately 1.38 million barrels per day of oil from Russia, which constituted about 27.4% of its total oil imports [https://www.india.com/news/india/india-united-states-russia-crude-oil-petroleum-purchase-narendra-modi-vladimir-putin-donald-trump-piyush-goyal-tariff-war-us-commerce-ministry-8293529]. 4. **Geopolitical Context**: - The U.S. has been pressuring India to reduce its reliance on Russian oil, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia [https://www.rediff.com/news/report/india-free-to-buy-oil-from-any-country-says-russia-amid-us-claims/20260204.htm]. - Experts note that Indian refiners face challenges in completely replacing Russian Urals crude with lighter U.S. shale oil due to blending costs and volume discrepancies [https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/india-is-free-to-buy-oil-from-any-country-kremlin]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Oil Import Figures**: - December 2025: 1.38 million barrels per day from Russia (27.4% of total imports) [https://www.india.com/news/india/india-united-states-russia-crude-oil-petroleum-purchase-narendra-modi-vladimir-putin-donald-trump-piyush-goyal-tariff-war-us-commerce-ministry-8293529]. - **Kremlin's Statements**: - "India is free to buy oil from any supplier" [https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-free-to-buy-oil-from-any-supplier-russia-after-trumps-claim/article70594448.ece]. - "We have not received any message from India about stopping oil purchases" [https://www.bizzbuzz.news/market/commodities/crude-oil/no-word-from-india-on-halting-oil-buys-says-kremlin-1385037]. ### Conclusion: Key Takeaways 1. **Rejection of Claims**: Russia has categorically denied Trump's assertion that India will stop importing Russian oil, emphasizing India's autonomy in energy sourcing. 2. **Ongoing Trade Relations**: The Kremlin maintains that energy trade with India is beneficial and will continue despite U.S. pressures. 3. **India's Oil Strategy**: India is actively diversifying its oil imports but has not officially committed to halting Russian oil purchases, reflecting a complex geopolitical landscape. In summary, the situation underscores the intricate balance India must maintain between its energy needs and international diplomatic relations, particularly with major powers like the U.S. and Russia.