Amid claims by US President Donald Trump that India has agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday reiterated that safeguarding the energy needs of India&rsquo;s 1.4 billion people remains the government&rsquo;s highest priority.
Addressing a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India&rsquo;s energy decisions are guided by national interest and evolving global conditions. He underlined that ensuring energy security for the country&rsquo;s population is paramount, particularly in the current international energy landscape.
He added that India&rsquo;s strategy focuses on diversifying energy sources in line with market realities and geopolitical developments, stressing that all present and future decisions will continue to follow this approach.
Following the announcement of the India-US trade deal earlier this week, Trump claimed that India had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and would instead increase purchases from the US and potentially Venezuela. He suggested such a move could contribute to efforts aimed at ending the Ukraine war.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the trade agreement, New Delhi did not comment on any commitment related to halting Russian oil imports.
Clarifying India&rsquo;s position, the MEA said the country remains open to buying oil from Venezuela or other suppliers, depending purely on commercial feasibility. Officials highlighted that India has a long-standing partnership with Venezuela and evaluates energy imports based on economic and strategic considerations.
Reacting to Trump&rsquo;s remarks, Russia stated that it has not received any communication from India regarding a halt in oil purchases. The Kremlin emphasised the importance it attaches to its strategic partnership with New Delhi and said it intends to continue strengthening bilateral ties.
The India-US trade deal, announced by Trump and later confirmed by PM Modi, reduced tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said the agreement is in its final stages, a view echoed by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who noted that the deal is still being formalised. A detailed joint statement is expected soon.

MEA responds to Trump, says sourcing decisions driven by national interest

India puts energy security above oil claims

MEA responds to Trump, says sourcing decisions driven by national interest

February 5, 2026 | 14:46 IST