Trump praises 'friend' Modi in birthday call, thanks him for support on 'ending Russia-Ukraine war'

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he had a “wonderful” phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to wish him on his 75th birthday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Modi’s leadership and thanked him for supporting his efforts to end the Russia–Ukraine war.

“Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!” Trump wrote.

The post follows an X post by PM Modi in which he thanked Trump for the birthday wishes and also hailed his efforts "towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict."

The cordial exchange comes after Trump last week hinted at a thaw in ties, which have been at their lowest point in over two decades due to tariff disputes and India’s purchase of Russian oil. Both Trump and Prime Minister Modi noted the resumption of trade talks and expressed optimism about reaching a deal soon.

Trump has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent additional duty for India's purchase of Russian crude oil. India described the US action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

On Tuesday, for the first time since steep tariffs were imposed, India and the US discussed the next steps in bilateral trade talks, which Washington described as “positive.” The resumption of negotiations reflects both sides’ intent to find common ground and narrow differences amid efforts to improve strained relations.

The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership covers key areas such as defence, trade, energy, and technology. During their February meeting in Washington, the leaders set a goal of more than doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.