India, Oct. 22 -- A re-run of his big claim on India and Russia's oil trade ties, his admiration for Indians and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some hope that New Delhi and Washington were engaged in trade deals - US President Donald Trump said a lot as he hosted a Diwali celebration in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday.

Trump once again claimed that India will halt its oil trade with Russia, the fourth time he has made this assertion in a week. Trump also heaped praise on his "great friend" Modi and said that the Prime Minister also wanted to see the Ukraine war end.

"He's not going to buy much oil from Russia. He wants to see that war end as much as I do. He wants to see the war between Russia and Ukraine to end. They'...