Washington / New Delhi( The COW News Digital) The United States has reportedly asked India to halt its purchase of Russian oil if it wishes to finalize a much-anticipated trade agreement with Washington, according to a Reuters report.
A senior US trade official revealed that while negotiations are progressing positively, several sticking points remain, including market access, trade deficit concerns, and India’s continued import of discounted Russian crude oil.
US President Donald Trump has been applying pressure on India, the European Union, and NATO allies to reduce or completely stop their purchases of Russian energy in order to cut Moscow’s revenue streams and intensify pressure on the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine.
The Trump administration has made Russian oil imports a central condition in trade talks, using what analysts describe as a “maximum pressure strategy.”
President Trump has openly voiced frustration over the slow progress in ending the Ukraine conflict, a war he pledged to resolve from day one of his presidency.
To further raise pressure, Washington has already imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, pushing the total duties on Indian goods to nearly 50%, severely impacting bilateral trade relations. Despite this, India remains one of Russia’s largest oil buyers, alongside China.
Interestingly, the US has not imposed additional tariffs on Beijing, even though China is also a major buyer of Russian crude — a move that has led New Delhi to accuse Western nations of double standards.
India has defended its energy purchases, emphasizing that Russian crude provides critical economic benefits, including cheaper fuel prices and energy security for its population of over 1.4 billion.
Diplomatic observers believe this demand by Washington could put New Delhi in a difficult position as it tries to balance its strategic partnership with the US while maintaining its energy security and long-standing ties with Moscow.
The coming weeks will determine whether India bows to Washington’s demands or risks delaying the long-sought trade agreement — a deal that could reshape economic ties between the two democracies.
