The US called for India to reconsider oil imports from Russia. Off said that you can buy oil from any country in the world but not from Russia. Also, emphasized that America has no intention of punishing India, but its goal is to end the ongoing struggle in Ukraine.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright gave this comment in response to a question while addressing a press conference.
Wright told ANI, “There are lots of oil exporters in the world. India does not need to buy Russian oil. India buys Russian oil because it is cheaper. Nobody wants to buy Russian oil; they have to sell it on a discount.”
He said, “India has decided to buy cheap oil and look on the other side, giving money to the man who is killing thousands of people every week.”
Wright clarified the situation in the US, saying, “We want India to buy (oil) with us.
Regarding talks with the Indian leadership, Wright said that he met Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on the night of the inauguration ceremony and started talks on cooperation in future.
He said, “I met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the night of the inauguration ceremony and started a conversation between our countries on the path of future. Russia’s attempt to establish peace in Ukraine is a complicated case. We both, we are trying to find the most creative ways to end this war, both in the US and with our colleagues.”
Wright emphasized the priority of ending the struggle, strengthening the US-India relations. He said, “The President (Trump) does not want anything other than the end of this war, and another benefit of conflict will be that a source of stress will end.”
He said, “I am fully prepared for energy and business cooperation with India. Its future is bright, but we somehow have to find out how we should work together to create maximum pressure to end the war.”
In August 2025, the Trump administration imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, causing a total tariff burden to 50 percent, as India continues to import oil from Russia.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), criticizing the move, described it as “unfair, inappropriate and indispensable”, and reiterated that India’s energy policy is operated by the market dynamics and the need to ensure access to cheap energy for its 1.4 billion citizens.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said, “The US has targeted India’s oil imports from Russia. We have already clarified our position. Our imports are based on market factors and its purpose is to ensure energy security for 1.4 billion Indians.”
Earlier, several US authorities had targeted India over the purchase of Russian oil, in which senior advisor Peter Navarro, in his recent statements, accused India of making profiteering from Russian oil, and alleged that “American jobs” were going to be “American jobs” due to India’s tariff.
Navaro has repeatedly sarcasted India in recent times. They have also made harsh satire from calling it a “Kremlin’s washing home”, “Brahmins are earning profits from conflict in Russia”.
In addition, the White House Economic Advisor Kevin Haset said that Trump and the trade team are “disappointed” with the continuous import of Russian crude oil by India, but hoped for positive development.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly described India as America’s “most tariff partner”, and described business relations as “completely unilateral disaster”.
