Trump Claims PM Modi Pledged to Halt Russian Oil Imports Soon

President Donald Trump lavished praise on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while unveiling a purported pledge to curb Russia's war funding. Trump, having imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods to penalize Moscow's top oil buyer, declared Modi had committed to halting Russian crude imports "within a short period," framing it as a major step toward isolating President Vladimir Putin economically. "I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia," Trump stated, highlighting the move's potential to pressure a quicker resolution to the Ukraine conflict—now in its fourth year since Russia's 2022 invasion, which Trump quipped "should have wrapped in a week" but has dragged on devastatingly.

The announcement, awaiting confirmation from New Delhi, points to a thaw in US-India relations strained by those tariffs and Trump's earlier criticisms that Modi's oil deals were undermining his peacemaking initiatives. India, depending on discounted Russian barrels for roughly one-third of its imports, has consistently justified the purchases as vital for energy stability in a volatile global market. Trump, pressing forward, signaled similar tactics against China as Russia's other key customer, despite ongoing trade tensions there.

Trump's comments took a quirky turn as he enthused, "Modi is a great man. He loves Trump," before hastily adding with a laugh: "I don't want you to take the word 'love' any differently—I don't want to destroy his political career." He extolled India as an "incredible country" and Modi a "time-tested leader," drawing a stark contrast to the nation's past pattern of short-lived governments: "Every single year you would have a new leader—some for a few months—and my friend has been there now for a long time."

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Delivered during a joint appearance with FBI Director Kash Patel, the remarks spotlight Trump's personal bond with Modi, built through summits and defense agreements but challenged by the Ukraine divide. Experts anticipate benefits like resumed oil flows post-conflict, though doubts linger on the pledge's practicality amid India's neutral foreign policy and longstanding Moscow links. As a potential Trump-Modi summit approaches at a Southeast Asian forum, this self-proclaimed "breaking headline" might redefine energy dynamics or fade without verification, intensifying focus on Modi's high-stakes equilibrium between Washington and Moscow.

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