Hours after US President Donald Trump said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to halt India’s imports of Russian oil in an attempt to reach a final resolution in the ongoing trade talks between the two nations, the ministry of external affairs ( MEA ) here said on Thursday that discussions are on to deepen bilateral energy ties. The MEA, however, stopped short of confirming or refuting Trump’s claim.

Russia has emerged as the top supplier of crude oil to India after its invasion of Ukraine on the back of the heavy discounts it offered on its Urals.

Later in the day, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told mediapersons that, “As for a telephone conversation, I can say that there has been no discussion between the Prime Minister and President Trump.”

Briefing reporters at

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