Trump aide accuses India of funding Russia’s war through oil purchases

A senior aide to US President Donald Trump has accused India of effectively financing Russia’s war in Ukraine through its continued imports of Russian oil, marking one of the administration’s most pointed rebukes of New Delhi to date.

“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,” Caliber.Az quotes Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and one of the president’s most influential advisers per foreign media.

“People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. That’s an astonishing fact,” Miller said.

The remarks follow Trump’s recent escalation of pressure on New Delhi to halt Russian crude imports. On August 1, a 25% tariff on Indian goods took effect, imposed in response to its purchases of Russian military equipment and energy. 

The president has also threatened to levy tariffs of up to 100% on US imports from countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a significant peace agreement with Ukraine.

The Indian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday that New Delhi intends to continue sourcing oil from Moscow despite Washington’s warnings.

Miller balanced his criticism by pointing to Trump’s rapport with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing it as “tremendous.”

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, India sharply increased its purchases of discounted Russian oil and fertilisers, doubling bilateral trade from around USD 13 billion in 2021–22 to USD 27 billion in 2022 alone, making Russia India’s largest oil supplier.

By mid‑2025, Russia accounted for about one‑third of India’s crude imports, totalling roughly 1.75 million barrels per day from January through June—a 1 per cent rise year‑on‑year. Indian state refiners briefly suspended new Russian crude purchases in late July as discount margins narrowed, although long‑term contracts remain binding and purchases have resumed in many private and government–linked firms. 

Meanwhile, in Washington, President Trump has threatened secondary tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from countries continuing to buy Russian oil, and has already imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods tied to military and energy acquisitions from Russia.

By Aghakazim Guliyev