Not Heard This From PM Modi: Sergei Lavrov Dismisses Trump's Claims on India Halting Russian Oil

In a sharp rebuttal to Washington's narrative, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed President Donald Trump's recent claims that India agreed to halt Russian oil imports. Speaking to the State Duma on Wednesday, Lavrov underscored a clear disconnect between the White House's announcements and the official stance maintained by New Delhi.

Lavrov pointed out that while President Trump had publicly declared a deal to stop the flow of Russian crude to Indian shores, no such confirmation has emerged from the Indian leadership.

He noted that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor any high-ranking Indian official has corroborated Trump's statement.

The Russian Minister highlighted that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has consistently placed energy security at the forefront of India's national interest, particularly during recent BRICS meetings.

The friction comes on the heels of the Trump administration's "coercive" tactics. To sway India's trade choices, the US had previously imposed a 25% additional tariff on Indian oil imports from Russia last August and utilized sanctions and direct prohibitions to curb Moscow's energy revenue.

While President Trump recently rolled back those tariffs-claiming it was part of a "trade deal" where India would pivot away from Russian oil, Moscow is calling his bluff, suggesting the Indo-Russian bond remains "special and privileged."

With India assuming the BRICS chairmanship this January, the Moscow-New Delhi axis appears to be deepening rather than fraying. Lavrov referenced President Vladimir Putin's high-profile state visit to India in December 2025 as a turning point that yielded a "substantial package" of bilateral agreements.

"Our partnership is a special, privileged strategic one," Lavrov remarked, hinting at an upcoming meeting between PM Modi and President Putin on the sidelines of the 2026 BRICS Summit.

Caught between two superpowers, New Delhi is maintaining its strategic autonomy. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently clarified that India's guiding principle remains its national interest. While India continues to diversify its crude sources to ensure supply stability, it has stopped short of confirming any "exit" from Russian energy markets.