Washington D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized India for what he called profiteering from Russian oil amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a strongly worded post shared on his social media platform late Sunday evening, Trump accused New Delhi of reselling Russian crude on the global market while ignoring the humanitarian crisis caused by Moscow’s military actions.
“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,” Trump wrote. He alleged that this practice indirectly supports Russia’s war campaign and shows a lack of concern for the lives lost in Ukraine.
“They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” the President declared. He added that, in response, his administration would soon implement a significant increase in tariffs on goods imported from India. However, the statement offered no specifics on the timeline or the sectors that would be targeted.
The post, published at 8:20 PM Eastern Time, quickly gained traction online, reigniting conversations around India’s growing energy ties with Russia and its broader foreign policy posture. India has consistently argued that its purchase of discounted Russian crude is a measure aimed at controlling inflation and ensuring energy security during turbulent global market conditions.
Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, India has emerged as one of the top buyers of Russian oil. While Indian authorities maintain that their transactions are lawful and transparent, Western leaders particularly in Washington have voiced concern that such trade routes provide economic relief to Russia.
Trump’s statement signals a fresh strain in U.S.-India relations, especially in the economic sphere. The two nations have enjoyed closer cooperation in recent years across defense, technology, and strategic affairs. But the latest warning from the White House could complicate ongoing trade talks and raise questions about the future of bilateral agreements.
As of now, there has been no official comment from India’s Ministry of External Affairs or the Ministry of Commerce.
