By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his claim that India has “de-escalated” on buying Russian oil, as he met his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
“India is not going to be buying Russian oil anymore. And they have already de-escalated, and they have more or less stopped; they are pulling back. They brought about 38 percent of the oil, and they won’t be doing it anymore,” he added.
Trump asserted that he has been “assured” that India won’t be buying oil from Russia, while adding that he understood that it couldn’t be done “immediately.”
“He assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia…You can’t do it immediately. It’s a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over soon, and all we want from President Putin is stop this,” he noted.
Trump added that if India doesn’t buy Russian oil, it makes it “much easier” to end the conflict.
“Within a short period of time, they will not be buying oil from Russia, and they’ll go back to Russia after the war’s over,” he emphasised.
Trump described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great man” and India as “an incredible country.”
India rejected claims made by the US President Donald Trump of having a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trump earlier had claimed that, during a telephonic conversation, PM Modi has “assured” him that India won’t be buying oil from Russia.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded during a weekly media briefing stating “Regarding the comment from the US on energy issue, we have already issued a statement, which you can refer to. As for the telephonic conversation, I can say that there has been no discussion between the Prime Minister and President Trump”.
India has started buying Russian oil in the last few years China is Moscow’s biggest energy buyer.
The US administration imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India in August for purchasing Russian oil while taking no action against China.
Trump’s statements came as India’s trade negotiating team is in Washington for the next round of talks with US officials.
India Commerce Ministry said that $12-$13 billion came from the US without altering the configuration of the refineries. The government is keen to diversify the country’s energy import portfolio, subject to availability at the “right price.”
Trade talks resumed in Washington days after the new US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi.
