NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Friday (Aug 8) that he had “an excellent” dialog with Russian President Vladimir Putin, throughout which they mentioned Ukraine and methods to strengthen bilateral ties.
The decision got here as Modi, chief of the world’s most populous nation and its fifth-largest financial system, faces tough selections over New Delhi’s buy of Russian oil.
US President Donald Trump has given India, one of many world’s largest crude oil importers, three weeks to seek out different suppliers or face new import tariffs of fifty per cent, up from the present 25 per cent.
“Had an excellent and detailed dialog with my good friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the most recent developments on Ukraine,” Modi posted on social media.
“I stay up for internet hosting President Putin in India later this yr.”
OIL IMPORTS UNDER PRESSURE
Shopping for Russian oil has saved India billions of {dollars} on import prices, holding home gas costs comparatively steady, however that profit is now beneath risk due to Trump’s tariffs.
The oil purchases are a key income for Moscow’s battle in Ukraine.
Russia can also be one among India’s prime arms suppliers, and the nice and cozy ties between the 2 nations date again to the Soviet period. Putin final visited India in December 2021.
The Kremlin has criticised calls to “power nations to sever buying and selling relations” with Russia as “illegitimate”, with out instantly mentioning Trump.
Putin additionally met India’s nationwide safety adviser Ajit Doval in Moscow on Thursday, however no particulars have been offered about their discussions.
