Trump says Indian PM agrees to halt Russian oil purchases, boost US imports to help end Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump on Monday said on social media that a framework agreement on trade with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “almost finished,” following a conversation he described as wide-ranging, covering trade and efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

In his post, Trump praised Modi as “one of my greatest friends” and a “powerful and respected leader,” saying the two leaders discussed economic ties as well as the Russia–Ukraine war. Trump claimed Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead increase energy imports from the United States and potentially Venezuela — a step Trump said would help bring the war in Ukraine to an end, noting the conflict continues to cause heavy casualties.

Trump also said the two sides agreed to an immediate trade arrangement under which the United States would reduce its reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. Trump added India in turn would move to cut tariffs and non-tariff barriers on American products, and boost purchases of US energy, technology, agricultural goods and other products, which he said could exceed $500 billion.