President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to India over its continued purchase of Russian oil, threatening "massive tariffs" if New Delhi does not comply with his demands. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump recalled a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who allegedly assured him that India would stop buying oil from Russia.

“I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he's not going to be doing the Russian oil thing,” Trump said. However, when questioned about India’s denial of any such conversation, the former president didn't hold back, stating, “But if they want to say that, then they'll just continue to pay massive tariffs, and they don’t want to do that.”

This has been a point of contention for Trump in his dealings with India. A significant portion of the 50% tariffs he placed on Indian goods was in retaliation for India’s purchase of Russian oil, which the U.S. views as funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. As the largest buyer of discounted Russian oil after Western nations imposed sanctions, India has become a major player in keeping Russia's oil revenues flowing.

While the U.S. government maintains that petroleum revenue supports Russia’s war efforts, India has insisted on its right to secure energy resources at the best prices, especially amidst the global energy crisis. Recently, Trump’s remarks came on the heels of a White House official's statement claiming that India had reduced its Russian oil imports by 50%. However, Indian sources indicated that no immediate decrease in oil purchases had been observed, with shipments for November and December already planned.

India’s imports of Russian oil are expected to rise by 20% this month, reaching an estimated 1.9 million barrels per day, according to commodities data from Kpler. As this dynamic unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the pressure from Trump and potential tariff threats will prompt a real shift in India's energy strategy.