NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday he had held a conversation with Donald Trump, with the US president saying the pair had discussed trade as the countries negotiate a deal that could mend strained ties. Relations plummeted in August when Trump raised tariffs on Indian exports to the United States to 50 percent and US officials accused India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine by buying Moscow’s discounted oil. During a ceremony to mark Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on Tuesday, Trump told reporters he had spoken by phone with Modi.

The US has put pressure on India to ease its energy purchases from Russia in a bid to hit the Kremlin's war chest.

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday he had held a conversation with Donald Trump, with the US president saying the pair had discussed trade as the…