Washington, August 6, 2025: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed ignorance about continued American imports of Russian chemicals and fertilizers, even as India pushed back strongly against his decision to raise tariffs over its oil trade with Moscow.
Responding to a question at a White House press briefing, Trump said, “I don’t know anything about it. We will have to check,” when asked whether the US still imports Russian chemicals and fertilizers despite criticizing India’s purchases from Russia.
The statement follows Trump’s Monday post on Truth Social, where he accused India of buying “massive amounts” of Russian oil and reselling it for profit, calling the practice indifferent to the suffering of Ukrainians. He said he would “substantially raise” tariffs on India as a result.
India swiftly dismissed Trump’s allegations. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a detailed statement, calling the move “unjustified and unreasonable,” and pointing out that India’s imports from Russia are driven by strategic energy needs in a volatile global market.
The MEA emphasized that India turned to Russia for energy supplies only after traditional suppliers redirected resources to Europe during the Ukraine war a shift actively encouraged by the West at the time.
The Indian government also accused the US and its allies of hypocrisy, pointing to America’s ongoing imports of Russian uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilizers, and chemicals. It noted that such trade isn’t a “vital national compulsion” as in India’s case.
Further highlighting double standards, the MEA revealed that the European Union’s trade with Russia in 2024 totaled €67.5 billion, including 16.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas surpassing India’s trade volume.
India reiterated that it will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and ensure energy security for its citizens.
