A senior White House official, closely linked to former President Donald Trump, has accused India of indirectly supporting Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine by continuing to buy Russian oil. This claim came up during a recent TV interview.
The official said India’s ongoing oil imports from Russia essentially help fund Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine. He also mentioned that Trump shares this view and has made it clear he opposes India’s purchase of Russian oil.
Despite Trump’s warnings and threats, India has not stopped buying Russian oil. Trump had warned countries importing Russian energy that they would face higher tariffs, hoping to pressure Russia economically and push for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
However, India says long-term contracts make it difficult to stop these purchases suddenly. Two senior Indian officials told Reuters that India’s oil import policy from Russia won’t change immediately and stressed the binding nature of these contracts.
They also pointed out that Russian crude oil isn’t directly sanctioned by the European Union and that India is buying it at prices below the EU’s price cap.
While the Indian government hasn’t officially commented on the issue, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randeep Surjewala recently said India’s relationship with Russia remains stable and trustworthy.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has increased pressure by imposing a 25% tariff on imports from India starting August 1, targeting India’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil and weapons.
India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer and importer, with Russian crude making up about 35% of its total oil supply. From January to June this year, India imported an average of 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil—a slight increase compared to the same period last year.
This situation creates a tough balancing act for India-US relations, as economic interests and geopolitical pressures collide amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
