New Delhi: India on Thursday strongly reiterated that its energy import decisions are driven by domestic consumer interests, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “assured” him that India would cease buying Russian oil.

Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, said: “I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop.”

He further added, “There will be no oil. He’s not buying oil,” clarifying that the shift “would not take place immediately, but within a short period of time.”

He also said he planned to push China to “do the same thing.” ADVERTISEMENT

In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made clear that India’s oil an

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