Russia’s Ambassador to India Denis Alipov on Thursday defended his country’s energy partnership with New Delhi after US President Donald Trump claimed that PM Narendra Modi had assured him that India would stop purchasing crude oil from Moscow. Alipov said the partnership between the two aligns squarely with India’s national interests and benefits both countries.

When asked about Trump’s statement, Alipov told the press, “This is a question for the Indian government to answer.” “The Indian government is dealing with the matter having in mind the national interests of this country in the first place. Our cooperation in the energy sector is very much in tune with those interests,” he added.

Responding to Trump’s remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs said the country was “broad-basing a

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