1 hour ago
Last Updated:February 04, 2026, 07:15 IST
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said India has committed to halting Russian oil purchases and boosting US imports under the new trade deal.
PM Modi with US President Donald Trump at White House (Image/X@WhiteHouse)
The White House on Wednesday claimed that India has committed to halting its purchases of Russian crude oil and will instead step up imports from the United States, and potentially Venezuela, under the newly announced India-US trade agreement.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the commitments followed direct talks between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“As you all saw yesterday, the President struck another great trade deal with India. He spoke with Prime Minister Modi directly; they share a very good relationship," she said.
“India committed to not only no longer purchasing Russian oil but also buying oil from the United States, and perhaps also from Venezuela, which we know will now have a direct benefit on the United States and the American people," Leavitt told reporters.
She further claimed that PM Modi had pledged major investments in the US economy.
“In addition to that, Prime Minister Modi committed to USD 500 billion of investments into the United States, including for transportation, for energy, and for agricultural products as well. This is another great trade deal," she added.
#WATCH | Washington DC | On US-India trade agreement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says, “India committed to not only no longer purchasing Russian oil, but buying oil from the United States, also perhaps from Venezuela too, which will now have a direct benefit on… pic.twitter.com/exQUBopZJE— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2026
Trump, in a social-media post earlier, had announced that Washington and New Delhi had “agreed to a trade deal" that would immediately lower US reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent.
In that post, Trump said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to “stop buying Russian Oil" and to buy more from the US and potentially Venezuela, while also moving to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Following Trump’s remarks, PM Modi mentioned on X that he was “delighted" Indian exports would face the reduced tariff rate and thanked the US President for the decision.
Meanwhile, news agency PTI reported that US officials have indicated the tariff relief is linked to India not merely reducing but ceasing Russian oil purchases.
A White House official was quoted as saying that “the agreement is that India will cease, not just reduce, Russian oil purchases."
PTI, citing sources, said Indian refiners would continue to honour existing purchase commitments but would avoid placing new orders, with imports expected to taper off over time.
The report added that while some refiners had already cut back following US sanctions on major Russian suppliers, others would gradually wind down their exposure.
Nayara Energy, partly owned by Rosneft and constrained by European and UK sanctions, may remain an exception for now because of limited alternative supply options, the report said.
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First Published:
February 04, 2026, 07:09 IST
News world 'India Committed To Stop Russian Oil Purchase, Will Buy From US': Karoline Leavitt After Trade Deal
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