Washington, Oct 22 (IANS) US President Donald Trump hosted a special Diwali event at the White House, where he termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi “a great person” and said he loves “the people of India.”

US President Donald Trump has claimed that he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday and was assured that India won't buy much oil from Russia, a claim he had been pushing over the past few days.

Speaking to reporters during Diwali celebrations at the White House, the 79-year-old said that PM Modi also wants an end to the two-and-a-half year old war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that war with Pakistan must be avoided, highlighting that he has prevented multiple conflicts using diplomacy

Trump insists he has been promised India will stop importing Russian oil – and vows ‘massive’ tariffs until that happens

Discussions are in full swing regarding a possible meeting between President Trump and PM Modi at the ASEAN summit to be held in Malaysia amid US tariff tensions on India. Speculation continues to swirl about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Natixis' Trinh Nguyen on outlines why India's Narendra Modi would pledge to stop buying Russian oil to President Trump, and what India stands to gain.