India Shuts Down Trump’s Russian Oil Rant With A Cold Dose Of Reality

Hours after Donald Trump threw one of his trademark tantrums, accusing India of profiteering off Russian oil while civilians die in Ukraine, India has issued a calmly brutal response that has exposed the rank hypocrisy of the West and left the US President looking utterly unserious.

In a rambling post, complete with multiple exclamation marks and the signature “Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”, Trump alleged that India “is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil” but also “selling it on the open market for big profits.” He added that he would be “substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”

India’s Ministry of External Affairs didn’t name Trump directly, but the response was unmistakably aimed at his claims.

The statement clarified that India increased imports of Russian oil only after traditional suppliers diverted energy flows to Europe, effectively crowding out other buyers.

It also noted that India’s purchases were publicly known and, at the time, even encouraged by the United States to help stabilise global energy markets.

More devastatingly, India pointed to the ongoing trade between Russia and Trump’s own allies in the West. The European Union recorded €67.5 billion in goods trade with Russia in 2024, alongside 16.5 million tonnes of imported LNG, a new record.

The US, for all its sanctimony, continues to import uranium for its nuclear industry and palladium for EVs, among other Russian-origin goods, India said.

India’s statement noted that its energy imports are a “vital national compulsion,” unlike the West’s trade with Russia, which appears to be driven more by convenience than necessity.

“Targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,” the statement said bluntly, adding that India would take all necessary steps to protect its national and economic interests.