New Delhi: India has flatly denied US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him of halting oil imports from Russia, clarifying that no such conversation ever took place between the two leaders.
JUST IN: There was no phone call between PM Modi and Trump about stopping the purchase of Russian oil – MEA spokesperson 🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/4PiqiNjlzF
— Crypto India (@CryptooIndia) October 16, 2025
At a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “On the question of whether there was a conversation or a telephone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump — I am not aware of any such conversation yesterday between the two leaders.”
Responding to Trump’s remarks, the MEA reaffirmed that India’s energy policy is driven solely by national interest and market dynamics, not external pressure. “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. Our priority has always been to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers in a volatile global energy market,” the statement said.
Our response to media queries on comments on India’s energy sourcing⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/BTFl2HQUab pic.twitter.com/r76rjJuC7A— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 16, 2025
It further emphasized that New Delhi’s energy sourcing strategy is based on diversification and stability. “Ensuring stable energy prices and secure supplies remain the twin goals of our energy policy,” the ministry added, noting that India has also expanded energy cooperation with the US over the past decade.
Earlier, during a press conference, Trump praised Modi’s long tenure as Prime Minister before claiming that India would “soon stop buying oil from Russia.” He said, “He has assured me there will be no oil purchase from Russia… they will go back after the war is over.”
New Delhi’s swift rebuttal underscores its steadfast stance on strategic autonomy and its refusal to align energy choices with global political narratives.
