‘Spoke to PM Modi on Diwali, he agreed to lower Russian oil imports’: Trump
US President Donald Trump attended the Diwali celebrations at the White House on Tuesday and extended his warm greetings to the people of India and the Indian Americans on the occasion.
Speaking at the event, Trump stated that he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was reassured that India would reduce its oil purchases from Russia.
Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, FBI chief Kash Patel, intelligence head Tulsi Gabbard, new US envoy to India Sergio Gor, and several Indian American business leaders were also present at the celebrations.
"Let me extend our warmest wishes to the people of India. I just spoke to your prime minister today. Had a great conversation. We talked about trade... He's very interested in that,” Trump said.
Calling Modi a “great person” and a “great friend”, Trump said the prime minister wants to see the war between Russia and Ukraine end.
"He’s not going to buy much oil from Russia. He wants to see that war end as much as I do. He wants to see the war between Russia and Ukraine 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…," said the President.
Modi, in a post on X, confirmed the telephonic conversation between him and the President, but did not disclose whether they discussed trade.
“Thank you, President Trump, for your phone call and warm Diwali greetings. On this festival of lights, may our two great democracies continue to illuminate the world with hope and stand united against terrorism in all its forms,” he said.
Last week, Trump had made a similar claim, saying the prime minister had spoken to him and assured him that India would stop buying Russian oil. He repeated the claim earlier this week, though New Delhi has denied any such conversation between the two leaders.
On Monday, Trump further warned that India will continue to pay “massive” tariffs on its goods to the US if New Delhi doesn’t curb the Russian oil purchase.
The US has accused New Delhi of funding Moscow's war machine through the oil purchase and imposed a 25 per cent punitive tariff, taking the total levy on Indian goods to the US to 50 per cent.
India and China are the top buyers of Russian seaborne crude exports, taking advantage of the discounted prices Russia has been forced to accept after European buyers shunned purchases.
Trump’s claims have also sparked a political firestorm in India, with the opposition Congress accusing the Modi government of allowing Washington to decide its foreign policy.
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