A call between the leaders of Russia and India affirmed the countries’ close ties despite Washington’s demands for New Delhi to wean itself off Russian oil. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday thanked his “friend,

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and looked forward to continued exchanges in the days to come.

The Russian embassy in India criticised the US penalties on New Delhi over trade ties, saying crude oil trade between the two nations will remain unaffected and overall India–Russia trade is expected to grow 10% annually.