Trump Aide accuses India of supporting Ukraine war by buying Russian oil

A top aide to U.S. President Donald Trump has accused India of indirectly supporting the Ukraine war by continuing to purchase oil from Russia. The comment marks one of the harshest positions taken by the Trump camp toward India to date.

Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff during Trump’s presidency, made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News’ program Sunday Morning Futures. He stated, “President Trump has made it clear—India’s purchase of Russian oil is effectively financing the war in Ukraine. It’s unacceptable. People would be shocked to learn that India is now on par with China in terms of oil imports from Russia. That’s an incredible fact.”

The comments come amid growing pressure from Washington on New Delhi to reduce or halt trade ties with Moscow, particularly in the energy sector.

According to a report published Monday by Indian news outlet NDTV, the Trump administration has raised three key grievances against India: ongoing oil imports from Russia, high tariffs on American goods, and alleged misuse of the U.S. immigration system.

Despite the criticism, Miller maintained that Trump values U.S.-India relations. “President Trump has always aimed to maintain a strong relationship with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said, but added, “We must be realistic. Trump has a range of diplomatic, financial, and other tools available to counter Russia’s war funding and promote peace.”

Sources close to the Indian government told Bloomberg last week that India plans to continue buying oil from Russia despite U.S. pressure. They emphasized that oil procurement is strictly a commercial decision, and there are no specific restrictions placed on public or private refineries.

In recent months, the Trump camp has escalated its rhetoric. The U.S. had earlier imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports, and there are warnings of further actions if India continues its energy ties with Russia.

Last week, Trump sharply criticized India’s geopolitical stance, saying, “They’ve joined the BRICS alliance and kept close ties with Russia. If they want to go down with their collapsing economy, so be it.”

India has not officially responded to Miller’s latest comments.