Trump Aide Accuses India of Funding Russia’s War Through Oil Purchases as U.S. Imposes Tariffs
A senior aide to U.S. President, Donald Trump has accused India of indirectly financing Russia’s war in Ukraine through its continued importation of Russian crude oil. The statement, which comes amid growing tensions between Washington and New Delhi, coincided with the announcement of new tariffs on Indian exports by a potential future Trump administration.
Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s top advisors and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News, where he criticized India’s energy dealings with Russia.
According to Miller, India is now among the largest importers of Russian oil — alongside China — and is “effectively helping to fund Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.”
“What [Trump] said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing oil from Russia,” Miller stated. “India is tied with China in the volume of Russian oil purchases. That is astonishing, and it has to stop.”
Miller’s comments followed the Trump campaign’s unveiling of a tough new trade policy targeting countries that have maintained economic ties with Moscow.
India is one of the first nations affected, with the U.S. announcing a 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing its ongoing oil trade and defense relationships with Russia.
The policy, described by analysts as a form of “secondary sanctioning,” aims to pressure nations to cut off critical revenue streams to the Kremlin.
The Trump team has indicated that tariffs could increase up to 100% if India and others do not reduce their dependence on Russian oil.
The Indian government has responded firmly, defending its energy decisions as guided by national interest and energy security. A senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs stressed that India will continue to engage in oil purchases based on commercial considerations and will not be swayed by external pressure.
New Delhi also pointed out that it has consistently called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine while maintaining long-standing, non-aligned foreign policy principles.
India’s oil imports from Russia have grown sharply since Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow in 2022.
Before the war, Russian crude accounted for less than 2% of India’s oil imports. Today, it exceeds 30%, making India the second-largest buyer of Russian oil.
Although President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have publicly shared warm relations, the sharp shift in tone signals a potential strain in bilateral ties.
While Trump has often praised Modi and India’s global leadership, his campaign now appears willing to adopt a harder stance if re-elected — one that prioritizes isolating Russia even at the cost of friction with key allies.
“President Trump has a tremendous personal relationship with Prime Minister Modi,” Miller noted. “But this isn’t about friendship — it’s about ending the war in Ukraine by cutting off the money pipeline.”
India now faces a delicate balancing act: safeguarding its energy needs while managing increasing U.S. scrutiny. The tariffs threaten to impact key export sectors, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, and IT services — all major contributors to India’s economy.
Meanwhile, geopolitical analysts warn that overly aggressive U.S. moves could push India closer to Russia and China — an outcome that could undermine broader strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.
