Trump's advisor says path to peace in Ukraine runs through New Delhi

White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has criticised India for indirectly supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine through its purchases of Russian oil.

Speaking to reporters, Navarro, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, rejected the claim that India needs Russian oil to meet its energy demands, according to Indian media reports.

“Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India imported less than 1% of its oil from Russia. So now the argument that somehow that percentage has grown to 30 or 35%, that somehow they need Russian oil... that's nonsense,” he said.

Navarro explained that Indian refineries buy Russian oil at discounted prices, process it, and then resell it at higher prices abroad. “They don't need oil. It's a scheme to speculate on oil refining,” he added.

The adviser further argued that the revenue the Indian government earns from trade with the US is effectively redirected to purchases of Russian oil, indirectly supporting Moscow’s military campaign.

“It's crazy, and (US President Donald Trump — ed.) sees this chessboard perfectly. You guys need to write about this. That's what's going on there. And in many ways, the path to peace lies through New Delhi,” Navarro said.

In the same remarks, he endorsed raising US tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50%, potentially as soon as next Wednesday, August 27.

Despite his criticisms, Navarro described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great leader” while urging the Indian government to reconsider its approach. He emphasised that India’s economic choices are not only a matter of trade but also bear directly on the future of the conflict in Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova