Washington DC, Feb. 20 -- US President Donald Trump claimed India pulled its oil trade with Russia "way back" on his request.

Trump, citing his "fantastic relationship" with India, told reporters at a White House briefing that "India pulled out of Russia. India was getting its oil from Russia, and they pulled way back on my request because we want to settle a horrible war, where 25,000 people are dying every month. My relationship with PM Modi is great."

Washington had imposed 25 per cent additional tariffs on New Delhi's purchase of discounted oil from Russia, taking the total tariffs to 50 per cent. A few days ago, India struck an interim trade agreement with the US, taking the tariffs down to 18 per cent.

However US, while removing ...