Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a defiant tone in the face of US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, urging the nation to buy local goods as his administration signaled it would continue buying Russian oil.

Stephen Miller's criticism of India's purchases of Russian oil is some of the strongest yet by the administration about one of the United States' major partners.

Trade could be an impetus behind President Trump's threat to impose some kind of penalty on India over its imports of Russian energy. Why it matters: It would mark the first tangible carry-through from Trump's threats to hit Russian buyers to create leverage for a cease-fire in Ukraine.