WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, President Donald Trump revealed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given him a personal commitment to halt India’s purchase of oil from Russia.

This development, yet to be confirmed by Indian officials, aligns with Trump’s strategy to exert pressure on Moscow to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a close.

“They will cease oil purchases. He’s stopping the oil imports,” Trump stated. He noted that while this shift wouldn’t happen instantly, it would occur “in the near future.”

The Indian embassy in Washington has not yet provided any comment on this matter.

Trump has faced considerable challenges in his quest to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began nearly four years ago with Russia’s invasion. His frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin has grown, viewing him as a critical barrier to peace. Trump is slated to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday to discuss further steps.

India is the second biggest purchaser of Russian oil, after China, and Trump punished India with higher tariffs in August.