WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — A top aide to President Donald Trump accused India of helping fund Russia’s war in Ukraine by continuing to buy large quantities of oil from Moscow. The remarks come as the Trump administration tightens pressure on New Delhi to cut its energy ties with Russia.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, made the comments during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia,” Miller said. He also noted that India is now nearly tied with China as the biggest buyer of Russian oil—a detail he called “astonishing.”
The criticism follows new tariffs imposed by the United States. On Friday, the Trump administration levied a 25% tariff on Indian products. The White House said the move was in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian energy and military equipment. Trump has also threatened to raise tariffs to 100% on imports from countries that buy oil from Russia, unless Moscow agrees to a major peace deal with Ukraine.
India’s oil trade with Russia has surged since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. Before the conflict, Russia supplied just 1% of India’s crude oil. But after Western countries placed sanctions on Moscow, India increased its purchases, taking advantage of discounted prices.
By May 2023, India was importing up to 2.15 million barrels of Russian oil per day, according to Kpler, a data analytics firm. That figure made Russia the largest oil supplier to India. At one point, nearly 40% of India’s total oil imports came from Moscow.
Today, India is the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, after China. The surge in energy trade has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. officials.
Indian government sources told Reuters that New Delhi will continue to buy oil from Russia, despite U.S. threats. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs defended its decision, saying its relationship with Russia is “steady and time-tested.”
“India’s ties with Russia should not be seen through the prism of a third country,” the ministry said.
India has long relied on Russia for both energy and defense supplies. According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia remains the biggest arms supplier to the Indian military. India has historically imported most of its crude oil from the Middle East, but shifted toward Russia after the Ukraine war began.
Despite the tough rhetoric, Miller said Trump values his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He called the bond between the two leaders “tremendous.”
On July 30, Trump posted a message on his Truth Social platform, expressing frustration with India’s actions.
“India is our friend, but it has always bought most of its military equipment from Russia,” Trump wrote. “They are Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine—all things not good!”
He added, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.”
Some analysts believe Trump’s firm stance is aimed at pressuring Russia to reach a peace agreement. Others view it as a move to gain leverage over India in ongoing trade negotiations. The Trump administration has repeatedly expressed concerns about the U.S. trade deficit with India, which stands at $45 billion.
Meanwhile, Indian political analysts note that the U.S. also continues to do business with Russia. U.S. total goods trade with Russia was an estimated $3.5 billion in 2024. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Russia was $2.5 billion in 2024
As global oil prices remain volatile, India has defended its purchases, saying they help stabilize global energy markets. But with Washington increasing tariffs and threatening further penalties, India may face growing challenges in balancing its strategic ties with both Russia and the West.
