Trump Aide Slams India for Fueling Russia’s War with Oil Purchases

Washington– A senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration has accused India of indirectly supporting Russia’s military actions in Ukraine by continuing to buy oil from Moscow. The remarks, made by Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and a key Trump advisor, reflect growing U.S. pressure on New Delhi to halt its energy trade with Russia amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

In an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Miller emphasized that President Trump finds it unacceptable for India to sustain Russia’s war efforts through its oil purchases. “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,” Miller stated. He underscored the scale of India’s oil imports, noting that India is nearly on par with China in procuring Russian oil, describing the fact as “astonishing” and likely surprising to many.
Miller’s comments mark some of the sharpest criticism yet from the Trump administration directed at India, a significant U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific region. The rebuke comes in the wake of a 25% tariff imposed on Indian goods, effective last Friday, in response to India’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil and military equipment. Trump has also warned of steeper tariffs potentially up to 100% on imports from nations that continue to buy Russian oil unless Moscow negotiates a major peace agreement with Ukraine.

Despite the strong rhetoric, Miller softened his critique by highlighting the positive relationship between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he described as “tremendous.” The Indian Embassy in Washington has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. However, sources within the Indian government, speaking to Reuters, indicated that New Delhi intends to maintain its oil purchases from Moscow despite U.S. objections, citing energy security needs.

The controversy underscores the delicate balance in U.S.-India relations, as Washington seeks to curb Russia’s economic lifelines while maintaining strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.