India casts doubt on Donald Trump's declare Narendra Modi will cease shopping for Russian oil

[ad_1] India's international ministry has mentioned it's "not conscious" of a telephone name by which US President Donald Trump claimed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to cease buying Russian oil.

On Wednesday, Trump said his Indian counterpart had "assured me today" that it would end Russian oil imports , a transfer the US has pushed for in a bid to extend financial stress on the Kremlin to finish the conflict in Ukraine.

However requested concerning the name on Thursday, an Indian authorities spokesman solid doubt on Trump's account, saying he was "not conscious of any dialog between the 2 leaders" going down the day prior to this.

The Indian authorities had earlier mentioned discussions had been nonetheless "ongoing" with the US over its Russian oil purchases.

It comes as a White Home official confirmed to the BBC that Trump plans to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a name on Thursday.

India has change into a key vitality buyer for Russia for the reason that outbreak of the conflict, partly permitting the Kremlin to face up to the affect of Ukrainian allies slashing oil and fuel imports, the nation's largest export market.

The Trump administration has put public and diplomatic stress on India to finish its assist for the Russian vitality market because it seeks to extend the Kremlin's financial isolation and pressure an finish to the conflict. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Talking on the White Home on Wednesday, Trump mentioned he had acquired assurances from Modi on Wednesday that India would halt its purchases "inside a brief time frame".

In its preliminary response, the Indian authorities didn't immediately dispute that the decision between Trump and Modi had taken place. It learn: "Our constant precedence to safeguard the pursuits of the Indian shopper in a unstable vitality state of affairs. Our import insurance policies are guided fully by this goal."

The Indian authorities's second response on Thursday raises additional questions over whether or not a deal has been struck between Washington and Delhi.

BBC Information has contacted the White Home and State Division for remark.

Delhi's continued reliance on Russian crude oil, which it imports at a reduction, have change into a key supply of rivalry in US-India relations beneath the Trump administration, which has taken a harder line on the Ukraine conflict after Putin didn't agree a peace take care of the White Home.

India is second solely to China for the way a lot Russian vitality it imports, funding which helps to forestall the collapse of Russia's vital fossil gasoline business.

Modi's authorities has accused Ukraine's allies of hypocrisy, pointing to ongoing commerce with Russia, together with vitality imports to the European Union, albeit at diminished ranges.

In its newest spherical of sanctions unveiled this week, the UK government said it would target a major Indian oil refinery because it "proceed(s) to get facilitate getting Russian oil onto international markets". Officers mentioned India's Nayara Vitality Restricted imported 100 million barrels of Russian crude oil price greater than $5bn (£3.75bn) in 2024 alone.