New Delhi: The Modi government continues to maintain a conspicuous silence on United States President Donald Trump’s assertion that India has agreed to halt all imports of Russian crude. Days after Washington issued an executive order claiming New Delhi had committed to stop buying Russian oil, there remains no clear denial from Delhi that such a commitment was never made by the Modi government.This striking silence on the Trump’s claim that India has agreed to stop buying Russian crude is beginning to speak louder than any official denial. Far from pushing back, the Modi government appears to be tiptoeing around Washington’s assertion, raising questions about whether it is worried about the domestic political fallout of confirming such a concession and the diplomatic cost of unsettling Moscow.Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s evasiveness only accentuates the impression that the Modi government is reluctant to openly confront Trump’s narrative. Asked by PTI whether India would indeed end purchases of Russian crude, Goyal deflected the question to the Ministry of External Affairs. When pressed by ANI on whether disagreements over Russian oil might affect the trade deal, he insisted they would not and said buying American crude was in India’s strategic interest, while maintaining that companies decide what to buy.The MEA, for its part, has offered little clarity. Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar previously said Goyal would know more because he was negotiating the deal, a remark that only deepened the impression that the government is unwilling to state its position plainly. With both ministries passing the buck, the absence of an outright denial looks increasingly like silent assent.If India has made concessions behind closed doors, silence may be the safest short-term strategy. But the longer the Modi government refuses to state its position, the more it looks as if Washington’s version of events stands uncontested.The US executive order explicitly states that India has committed to halt all direct or indirect imports of Russian crude. Delhi conspicuous lack of a denial becomes even more telling as Russian officials indicate they have received no instructions suggesting supplies will be cut. Reuters reported that existing Indian refining contracts for Russian crude remain in place and would require a phased wind down if policies changed. According to PTI, Indian refiners have been informally advised to stop placing fresh orders for Russian crude while continuing to honour existing purchase commitments. These contracts are typically finalised six to eight weeks in advance, meaning Russian oil will continue to flow into India for the time being. One notable exception in this transition will have to be Nayara Energy, which is 49.13% owned by Russia’s Rosneft. Nayara has been sanctioned by the European Union and the UK, making it difficult for the company to source crude from most global suppliers. As per PTI, Nayara’s situation was explained to US trade officials during discussions in December, and the company may need to be granted an exemption under Trump’s “no Russian oil” order.The Modi government’s silence is especially conspicuous because Trump’s executive order explicitly states that India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian oil. If India has in fact entered such an obligation, it would mark a major shift in energy policy built for years on discounted Russian barrels.Acknowledging that India has agreed to halt Russian crude imports would trigger political backlash at home, where the Modi government has long portrayed discounted Russian oil as essential for protecting citizens from global price shocks and as an assertion of India’s strategic sovereignty in its foreign policy. It would also risk straining ties with Moscow at a moment when Russia remains a crucial defence supplier and a longstanding strategic partner.