India agreed to stop buying Russian oil: Trump's biggest demand met?
India Today
Trump announced that India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil and increase purchases from the US after months of trade pressure and tariff threats over New Delhi's energy ties with Moscow. While the US has framed the move as a strategic win linked to the Ukraine war, India hasn't mentioned Russian oil yet.
"India agreed to stop buying Russian oil and buy more from US," Trump said on Tuesday while announcing a deal, following more than a year of trade tensions between the two countries. A key point of friction, one Trump repeatedly highlighted, was India’s import of Russian crude.
Throughout this period, Trump openly pressured India to curb its Russian oil purchases amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, repeatedly threatening higher tariffs. He warned of increased levies, even going to the extent of saying India doesn't "care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine".
Despite the pressure, India held its position. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made it clear that the government would act in the country’s best interests, even if it meant ruffling feathers internationally.
On Monday night, Trump, as usual, jumped the gun and announced a trade deal with India. US has slashed reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent, while New Delhi is set to reduce its tariffs and non-tariff barriers on American products, potentially to zero. The US has also dropped the additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed on Indian imports over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.
"It was an Honour to speak with Prime Minister Modi, of India, this morning. He is one of my greatest friends and a powerful and respected leader of his country. We spoke about many things, including trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine. He agreed to stop buying Russian oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela," Trump posted on Truth Social.
Trump went on to write, "This will help end the war in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week! They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non-Tariff Barriers against the United States to zero."
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