India has sharply rebuked the United States over what it perceives as President Donald Trump’s hypocritical stance on its Russian oil imports. In a robust statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs dismissed U.S. accusations as “baseless and unjust,” staunchly defending India’s decision to purchase oil from Russia amid criticism from both the U.S. and the European Union. The ministry emphasised that India’s energy policy prioritises securing affordable oil for its 1.4 billion citizens, driven by economic necessity rather than political alignment.
India’s response comes amid U.S. threats to impose a 25% tariff on Indian goods starting August 1, 2025, alongside additional penalties for India’s ongoing oil and arms trade with Russia. He also accused India of buying discounted Russian oil and “selling it on the Open Market for big profits.”
“The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the MEA statement read.
“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability,” it added.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs emphasized in its statement that India’s imports are driven by the necessity to secure stable and affordable energy for its people. It pointed out that Western countries, which criticize India, are themselves involved in much larger trade with Russia, despite facing no comparable energy security challenges.
European Union- Russia Bilateral Trade
The MEA further noted that the European Union had a bilateral trade of EUR67.5 billion in goods and EUR17.2 billion in services with Russia in 2023, significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia. The EU’s LNG imports from Russia reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022.
The statement also stated that the Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment.
US-Russia Trade
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sharply highlighted the United States’ ongoing imports of uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle sector, as well as fertilisers and chemicals from Russia, underscoring what it perceives as inconsistent U.S. criticism of India’s Russian oil purchases. In a bold statement, the MEA declared that, like any major economy, India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security, firmly prioritising the needs of its 1.4 billion citizens.
What Trump Accused India
President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused India of bolstering Russia’s economy by importing its oil, thereby indirectly supporting Moscow’s actions against Ukraine. In a recent post on X, he reiterated his stance: “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.
They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”
