INDIA says it is looking to step up purchases of crude oil and natural gas from the United States as it diversifies its energy supplies and confronts criticism by US President Donald Trump over its imports of discounted Russian oil.

Trump said on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured him his country would stop buying Russian oil, in a move that might add to pressure on Moscow to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

“There will be no oil. He’s not buying oil,” President Trump said. The change won’t take immediately, he said, but “within a short period of time.”

India is the second biggest buyer of Russian oil after China. President Trump cited its purchases from Moscow when he announced 50 per cent tariffs on imports from India in August.

A statement today by India’s foreign ministry did not address Mr Trump’s remarks directly.

Randhir Jaiswal, a ministry spokesman, said: “Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.”

India’s Trade Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said on Wednesday that India was willing to increase its purchases of US oil and natural gas if prices were competitive.