US President Donald Trump once again claimed that India was not going to buy “much oil from Russia”, citing his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid Diwali celebrations at the White House.
"I love the people of India. We're working on some great deals between our countries. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi today and we just have a very good relationship. He's not going to buy much oil from Russia,” Trump said on Tuesday.
“He (PM Modi) wants to see that war end as much as I do. He wants to see the war between Russia and Ukraine to end. They're not going to be buying too much oil. So they've cut it way back, and they're continuing to cut it way back," he added.
Last week, Trump had claimed that PM Modi told him India would stop purchasing oil from Russia.
“I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia ... That’s a big step. Now I’ve got to get China do the same thing," Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to PM Modi.
However, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) denied any claims of talks between the two leaders.
When asked about Trump's claim that India would stop buying Russian oil, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the two leaders had no phone call last week.
"On the question of whether there was a conversation or a telephone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump. I am not aware of any conversation yesterday between the two leaders," he said on October 16.
Jaiswal stated that the two leaders spoke on October 9, during which Prime Minister Modi congratulated Trump on the success of the Gaza peace plan.
The relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe stress after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent additional duties for India's purchase of Russian crude oil.
India described the US action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable"
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