(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump reiterated his assertion that India plans to reduce its oil imports from Russia, following a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking on Tuesday at the Oval Office during the Diwali festival, Trump highlighted trade discussions as a central focus of their conversation.

“I just spoke to your prime minister today,” Trump said. “We had a great conversation. We talked about trade. We talked about a lot of things, but mostly the world of trade.” He added, emphasizing Modi’s position, “He’s not going to buy much oil from Russia.”

This claim contrasts with recent data showing New Delhi has substantially increased Russian oil purchases since 2022. According to Kpler, Russia accounted for 34% of India’s oil imports in September alone.

In August, the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff on India, penalizing its Russian oil imports and accusing India and China of prolonging the Ukraine conflict by sourcing Russian crude. This tariff was in addition to another 25% levy imposed earlier after trade talks between the two nations collapsed.

Trump also mentioned that the US and India are negotiating “some great deals” during his Tuesday conversation with Modi. Last week, Trump asserted that Modi had “assured” him India would stop buying Russian oil. However, hours later, India’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India’s “consistent priority” remains protecting its consumers amid a “volatile energy scenario,” which shapes its import policies.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Modi urged Indians on X (formerly Twitter) to support Swadeshi—domestically made products—during the festive season, encouraging people to share photos of their purchases on social media.

Despite India’s reputation as a “key growth engine” for the global economy, World Bank estimates warn that the US tariffs could reduce India’s GDP growth rate by 0.8% in the coming financial year, posing a significant challenge to its economic momentum.

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