On October 16, President Donald Trump claimed he had received an assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India would stop buying Russian oil. The MEA said in New Delhi it was not aware of any conversation between the two leaders.

This isn't the first unverifiable Trump claim. Nor is it the first time the US President has publicly pressured India to end its purchase of Russian oil amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In August, he imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for buying Russian oil (totalling 50 per cent) after publicly ranting that India was buying 'massive' Russian oil, refining it, and reselling at a profit.

India buys nearly 35 per cent of its total oil supply from Russia , something the MEA has termed a move 'to safeguard the interests of the Indian c

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