India on Monday (August 4, 2025) hit back on the US and the European Union to target New Delhi in an unfair and irrational manner to buy crude oil from Russia. Rejecting criticism in a strong manner, India cited the ongoing trade relations of the US and the European Union with Russia. Just hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to threaten more tariffs on India, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement to dismiss the criticism of New Delhi’s energy relations with Moscow.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the US and the European Union are targeting India to import oil from Russia after the Ukraine struggle begins. The ministry said that in fact, India started imports from Russia because traditional supply was diverted to Europe after the conflict began. “At that time, the US actively encouraged such imports by India to strengthen the stability of the global energy market,” the statement said.
Energy costs for Indian consumers
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the purpose of imports from Russia to India is to maintain the cost of energy for Indian consumers. The statement said that this (import) is a need, which has become a compulsion due to the status of the global market. However, it is coming to light that the countries criticizing India are in trade with Russia themselves. It said, “Unlike our case, such business is not even an important national obligation.” The Ministry of External Affairs said that Europe-Russia trade includes not only energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment. It states, “As far as America is concerned, it is continuing to import uranium hexafloride from Russia to its nuclear industry, palladium, fertilizer and chemicals for its electric vehicle industry.”
Inappropriate targeting India
The Ministry of External Affairs said, ‘In this background, targeting India is unfair and indiscriminate. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the European Union’s bilateral trade with Russia in 2024 was 67.5 billion euros. In addition, the business of services in 2023 is estimated to be around 17.2 billion euros. This is more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or after that year.
US President’s statement against India
The Ministry of External Affairs said, “In fact, European LNG imported in 2024 reached 16.5 million tonnes, which crossed the previous record of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022.” Earlier, US President Trump had said that his administration would increase the fee on India significantly. The US President wrote on social media, ‘India is not only buying a huge amount of oil from Russia, but is also earning huge profits by selling a large part of that oil at high prices in the open market.’ Along with this, Trump said, ‘He (India) does not care about how many people are being killed by Russia’s war machine in Ukraine. That is why I am going to increase the tariff given by India to America.
