What President Trump said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing oil from Russia,” Miller stated. He added that India is now “practically tied with China” in terms of Russian oil purchases — a claim that surprised many viewers.

But while the Indian government may not be deterred by Trump's threats, sources told Reuters this week that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil after July discounts narrowed to their lowest since 2022 - when sanctions were first imposed on Moscow - due to lower Russian exports and steady demand.

Did India stop buying Russian oil as Trump claims? U.S. President Donald Trump announced on August 2, 2025, that India halted Russian crude imports, but New Delhi denies any pause, with MEA sources citing market-driven decisions.