Ending India’s Russian oil imports is top priority, says U.S. envoy-designate Sergio Gor

Getting India to cease shopping for Russian oil is a “prime precedence”, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor informed U.S. Senators at his affirmation listening to on Thursday (September 11, 2025), indicating that regardless of a latest U.S. outreach to India to restart commerce ties, Russian imports will proceed to be a difficulty.

Mr. Gor mentioned that Mr. Trump had made it “crystal clear” that India must finish all imports of Russian oil, which make up about 35% to 40% of India’s consumption.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick additionally mentioned that commerce negotiations could be resolved “as soon as” India stops shopping for the oil, suggesting this was a pre-condition for any deal. 

‘Decision in few weeks’

“Getting India to cease shopping for Russian oil is a prime precedence for this administration,” Mr. Gor mentioned, responding to questions from members of the U.S. Overseas Relations Committee. “President Trump has made it crystal clear that India should cease shopping for Russian oil,” he added.

Mr. Gor, who hopes to be confirmed quickly, added that India and the U.S. are “not that far aside” from a deal on the 50% tariffs that the U.S. has imposed on India. 

“I do suppose it is going to get resolved within the subsequent few weeks,” Mr. Gor mentioned, additionally indicating that Mr. Trump was dedicated to travelling to India for the Quad Summit, and has invited Indian Commerce and Commerce officers to Washington subsequent week to renew talks on a free commerce settlement (FTA).

Pre-condition for deal

Mr. Lutnick, who has been extra sharply vital of India, mentioned that the U.S. President had referred to as India’s buy of Russian oil as “nonsense”. 

“India has to mainly open its market, and cease shopping for Russian oil,” Mr. Lutnick informed reporters in certainly one of a collection of interviews he gave on Friday (September 12, 2025).  “I feel India [FTA], we’ll type it out as soon as they cease shopping for Russian oil,” he added.

The feedback by U.S. officers come days after Mr. Trump posted that he anticipated “no issue” in coming to an settlement on commerce. It’s unclear whether or not he endorsed the statements linking the FTA to Russian oil imports.

Previously few days, two worldwide media companies — the Monetary Instances and CNBC TV — have reported that Mr. Trump informed European Union leaders in a name that they need to impose “100% tariffs” on India and China for his or her purchases of Russian oil. Nevertheless, EU commerce negotiators and Commissioners at the moment in Delhi for commerce talks have made no touch upon the difficulty. Diplomatic sources informed The Hindu that the EU does impose sanctions, however doesn’t weaponise tariffs because the U.S. has been doing. 

‘Regardless of hiccups, distinctive friendship’

The Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) declined to touch upon the statements made by Mr. Gor and Mr. Lutnick.

Authorities officers have constantly denied any plans to cancel Indian oil imports from Russia, insisting that they may take selections primarily based on India’s market pursuits. Nevertheless, Indian orders for Russian crude have dropped in September. In August, India bought about 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), nicely beneath the common of two million bpd over the previous few years. 

Mr. Gor mentioned that, regardless of the Indo-U.S. tensions over the previous few months, which he known as “hiccups”, Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi have a “distinctive” friendship. “When the President has been vital of India, he goes out of his solution to praise Modi. They’ve an unbelievable relationship,” he mentioned.