Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday said that no Indian leaders had backed US President Donald Trump's claim that India would stop buying Russian oil.
"I have not heard such a statement from anyone else, including Prime Minister Modi and other Indian leaders,” Lavrov said, in response to a question from a lawmaker in the State Duma, the Lower House of Russia’s parliament.
This comes just two days after Russia accused the US of trying to dissuade India and other countries from buying Russian oil.
Lavrov also pointed out that India-Russia ties were strong as ever, saying that Vladimir Putin’s state visit to India in December 2025 had played a major part in deepening longtime ties.
“In particular, a substantial package of joint documents was signed during President Putin's state visit to India last December. This visit enriched Russian-Indian relations, creating a special, privileged strategic partnership,” Lavrov added.
The Russian Foreign Minister then declared that both sides would meet again on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit this year, which will be chaired by India.
Trump's remarks
"(PM Modi) agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela," Trump had written in a Truth Social post on February 2.
Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO," he added.
India's response so far
India has neither confirmed nor denied Trump's claim of New Delhi stopping Russian oil purchases, instead releasing a statement on February 5 about national priorities.
"Insofar as India's energy sourcing is concerned, the government has stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.
Despite reports noting a marked decrease in India's oil imports from Russia, analysts have expressed doubts about New Delhi fully phasing out oil purchases from Moscow.
"What we are seeing instead is tactical adjustment," Tatiana Mitrova, a fellow at Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy, told Axios.
"Volumes are reduced at the margin, discounts are increased, and refiners diversify some purchases toward non-sanctioned crudes," she added.
