Russia rejects US President Donald Trump’s claim: On February 2, 2026, Donald Trump revealed the deal after a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, slashing US tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18% and stating Modi pledged to shift oil purchases. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pushed back on February 4, noting India has always diversified suppliers and Russia got no word of a halt.
India ramped up discounted Russian crude after 2022 to control inflation—now over a third of its seaborne oil—and has stayed silent on the claim while hailing the tariff cuts as a boost for exports. The back-and-forth highlights India’s balancing act between US ties and affordable energy security.