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US President Donald Trump has made a “dark joke” about Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding ending his political career just after dubbing the Indian leader his “close friend”. Trump, addressing reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday, described the Indian prime minister as “a great man,” and said, “He loves me... I don't want you to take the word love any differently... I don't want to destroy his political career.”

Notably, PM Modi and Trump shared a good friendship during the latter’s first term; however, the relations deteriorated as he returned to the White House. Trump made several controversial statements, some personal and others mocking India’s economy.

PM Modi assured me to stop Russian oil purchase: Trump claims

During presser, Trump claimed that his "friend" PM Modi has assured him that India would stop purchasing oil from Russia, a move he described as a “big step” toward increasing pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. The claim, however, was rebutted by the Indian side.

Speaking to reporters at his Oval Office on Wednesday, he said the US was “not happy” that India was buying Russian crude, arguing such purchases helped finance President Vladimir Putin's war.

“He (Modi) is a friend of mine, we have a great relationship... we were not happy with him buying oil from Russia because that let Russia continue on with this ridiculous war where they've lost a million and a half people,” Trump said in response to a question.

ALSO READ: 'PM Modi Assured Me Today India Will Not Buy Oil From Russia': Trump's BIG Claim | WATCH

“I was not happy that India was buying oil, and (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That's a big step. Now we've got to get China to do the same thing,” he said.

India is the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels behind China, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

My friend has been there now for a long time: Trump

Praising Modi's leadership, Trump said, “I have watched India for years. It's an incredible country, and every single year you would have a new leader. Some would be in there for a few months, and this was year after year after year, and my friend has been there now for a long time, and he's assured me there will be no oil purchases from Russia.”

ALSO READ: India's First Reaction After Trump Claims PM Modi Agreed To Stop Russian Oil Purchase: 'Priority To Safeguard Interests'

He added that the phase-out would take time but that it was already underway. “He (Modi) has assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia. I don't know, maybe that's a breaking story. Can I say that?... He's not buying his oil from Russia. It (has) started. He can't do it immediately; it's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon,” Trump claimed.

He said India could resume energy trade with Moscow after the Russia-Ukraine war is over.
“If India doesn't buy oil, it makes it much easier, and they're not going to buy, they assured me they will, within a short period of time, they will not be buying oil from Russia... And they'll go back to Russia after the war is over,” he said.

India-Russia oil import

Traditionally reliant on Middle Eastern oil, India, the world's third-largest oil importer, significantly increased its imports from Russia following the February 2022 Ukraine invasion. Western sanctions and reduced European demand made Russian oil available at steep discounts. As a result, India's Russian crude imports surged from under 1 per cent to nearly 40 per cent of its total crude oil imports in a short span.

(With inputs from agency)

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