India’s foreign ministry has expressed skepticism over US President Donald Trump’s claim that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil.
The claim was made in a phone call between the two leaders, which Trump said had assured him of India’s commitment to ending its Russian oil imports. However, an Indian government spokesman cast doubt on the account, saying he was not aware of any conversation between the two leaders taking place the previous day.
India has become a key energy customer for Russia since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which has allowed the Kremlin to withstand the impact of Ukrainian allies slashing oil and gas imports. The Trump administration has put public and diplomatic pressure on India to end its support for the Russian energy market as it seeks to increase the Kremlin’s economic isolation and force an end to the war.
Despite the US push, India remains committed to safeguarding the interests of its consumers in a volatile energy scenario, according to the Indian government. The move has raised questions over whether a deal has been struck between Washington and Delhi.
In recent months, the Trump administration has taken a tougher line on the Ukraine war after Putin failed to agree a peace deal with the White House. India is second only to China for how much Russian energy it imports, funding which helps to prevent the collapse of Russia’s critical fossil fuel industry.
Source: www.bbc.com
About the Author
