Latest: Trump Condemns India’s Russian Oil Trade, Signals Sharp Tariff Increase to Curb Support for Moscow’s War

US President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of India's energy ties with Russia, accusing New Delhi of buying "massive amounts" of discounted Russian oil and reselling it on the open market for "big profits," while ignoring the human cost of the Ukraine conflict.

In a post on the Truth Social platform today, Trump declared, "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA."

This comes amid ongoing tensions, with Trump already announcing a 25% tariff on Indian imports last week, citing trade deficits and security concerns.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, a key Trump aide, amplified the rebuke in interviews on 3 August, stating, "It is not acceptable for India to continue financing the war by purchasing Russian oil." Miller accused India of being nearly tied with China as a top buyer of Russian crude, directly funding Moscow's military actions in Ukraine.

Despite the threats, Indian government sources reaffirmed on 4 August that imports from Russia—now accounting for over 40% of India's crude oil needs, up from negligible levels pre-2022—will continue. "Decisions are based on price, grade of crude, logistics, and economic factors," an official told Reuters, noting purchases remain below the EU's $60 per barrel price cap. India's External Affairs Ministry emphasized that ties with Moscow are "steady and time-tested," driven by national energy security amid global volatility.

The row has strained Indo-US ties, once bolstered by Modi's personal rapport with Trump, and drawn Pakistan closer to Washington.

As of today, no official halt in Russian imports has been confirmed, with refiners like Indian Oil Corp reporting steady shipments.