WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised him New Delhi will stop buying Russian oil, months after Trump slapped punitive tariffs over the purchases.

"He's assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia," Trump told reporters.

"You know, you can't do it immediately. It's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon."

India did not immediately confirm Trump's account. Modi has previously defended buying oil from Russia, a historic partner of India, despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

But Modi appeared to show a desire to repair the relationship with Trump by meeting Saturday with the new US ambassador, close Trump political aide Sergio Gor, hours after he arrived in New Delhi.

Gor said

See Full Page