Trump warns India of heavy tariffs over Russian oil purchases

US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that India assured him it would stop purchasing oil from Russia, warning that failure to do so could result in heavy tariffs on Indian goods.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “I spoke to India’s Prime Minister Modi, and he told me they would no longer buy Russian oil.”

However, when a journalist pointed out that the Indian government had denied any such conversation, Trump responded, “I don’t know — if they want to say that, then they can keep paying heavy tariffs. And they won’t want to do that.”

Trump’s latest remarks follow his earlier statement made at the Oval Office, where he told reporters that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would cease purchasing oil from Russia, a move Trump described as “a good outcome” after expressing his dissatisfaction with the practice.

In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs swiftly denied Trump’s claims, stating there had been no recent conversation between Modi and Trump regarding Russian oil imports.

The ministry’s spokesperson clarified, “As far as we know, there has been no telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump in recent days.”

 
  
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.