Did Trump Waive Russian Sanctions Due To India-US Trade Deal? What Rubio Said

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday asserted that the US is close to finalising a trade deal with India. His statement comes as Washington and New Delhi continue to engage in negotiations to finalise a bilateral trade deal. The remarks also come ahead of his scheduled visit to India on October 20, which will mark his second official visit to India this year.

Rubio On India-US Trade Deal

Speaking on his upcoming visit to the country, Rubio emphasised that the two countries are very close to reaching an agreement, signaling a major breakthrough in ongoing negotiations. The impending deal aims to resolve long-standing friction over tariffs and market access, paving the way for deeper economic cooperation between India and the US.

“We're trying to finalise a trade deal with India right now. We're very close to doing that,” Rubio said. He also spoke about Washington's approach to Russian oil and gas sanctions. Rubio explained that the US has to consider several factors, including global energy supplies, prices, national security and the challenges countries face in finding alternative energy sources.

#WATCH | United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, "...We're trying to finalise a trade deal with India right now. We're very close to doing that." On Russian oil and gas, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "We've had to waive sanctions over the past few months because of the impact on global supplies and prices...We have to manage all of these things. We're trying to finalise a trade deal with India right now. We're very close to doing that. That's one of the things we take into consideration when the President makes a decision about national security waivers and things of that nature. Every country has a complex set of factors that it has to take into account. Geography is real. For some countries, it's very difficult to acquire energy from alternative sources. That's not an excuse, but all of that has to be balanced when making foreign policy..." (Source: US Network Pool via Reuters)

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2026

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Rubio Explains Russia Sanctions Waiver

Rubio said, "We've had to waive sanctions over the past few months because of the impact on global supplies and prices...We have to manage all of these things." He noted that the impending India-US trade deal is also a significant factor the Trump administration takes into consideration when the President evaluates national security waivers.

“We're trying to finalise a trade deal with India right now. We're very close to doing that. That's one of the things we take into consideration when the President makes a decision about national security waivers and things of that nature,” Rubio said. He added, “Every country has a complex set of factors that it has to take into account. Geography is real. For some countries, it's very difficult to acquire energy from alternative sources. That's not an excuse, but all of that has to be balanced when making foreign policy.”

Earlier on Sunday, Rubio had stated that President Donald Trump wanted to use the 60-day period to assess the impact of sanctions and tariffs before deciding on the next steps. Emphasising particularly on India, Rubio said the country had voluntarily diversified its energy sources but continued to obtain a substantial amount of energy from Russia.

He noted that shifting energy supplies from one country to another could not happen overnight. Rubio also described India as an important ally and partner of the US, adding that the 60-day period would allow the administration to study the situation and determine the right combination of sanctions and tariffs.

ALSO READ: Rubio's India Visit: Washington Must Learn To Engage New Delhi On Its Own Terms

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