Imposing a complete ban on Russia could prove to be risky for the Trump administration. India started buying large quantities of oil from Russia from 2022 only after sanctions were imposed on Russia by Europe.

India has opted not to direct its oil refiners to cease purchasing Russian oil, as officials carefully navigate the complexities of energy demands alongside diplomatic relations with US. While refiners have the flexibility to procure from preferred suppliers,

But while the Indian government may not be deterred by Trump's threats, sources told Reuters this week that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil after July discounts narrowed to their lowest since 2022 - when sanctions were first imposed on Moscow - due to lower Russian exports and steady demand.