India Slams Trump’s Tariff Threat Over Russian Oil Imports as “Unjustified and Unreasonable”

India has rejected President Trump's threat of higher tariffs over its Russian oil imports, calling the move unjustified and defending its actions as necessary for global energy stability.

India has strongly criticised U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose significantly higher tariffs in response to its continued purchase of Russian oil, calling the move “unjustified and unreasonable.”

The diplomatic row escalated after Trump took to his Truth Social platform, accusing India of taking advantage of the ongoing war in Ukraine by buying discounted Russian oil and profiting from reselling it on the open market. He claimed the Indian government showed little concern for the human cost of the conflict, stating: “India doesn’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.”

India's Ministry of External Affairs swiftly responded, defending its trade practices. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India’s decision to import Russian oil was taken to help stabilise global energy markets after Western sanctions disrupted supply chains. “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” he said. “The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable.”

Jaiswal also noted that, at the start of the conflict in 2022, the U.S. itself encouraged India to continue energy trade with Russia to prevent market volatility. He further highlighted that while India has become a key buyer of Russian oil, the trade is transparent, commercially driven, and not directly orchestrated by the Indian government. Oil refinery decisions, he said, are made based on price, supply security, and logistics—not political considerations.

Experts echoed this view. Ajay Srivastava, a former trade official and head of the Delhi-based Global Trade Research Initiative, called Trump’s accusations misleading. “India’s oil trade with Russia has been public knowledge and has contributed to global price stability. The government does not micromanage these transactions,” he said.

The controversy comes just days after Trump unveiled a 25% tariff on Indian goods and warned of further penalties. Despite calling India a "friend" in the past, he now argues that the country’s trade behaviour contradicts that status.

Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Russia are also rising. Trump has threatened Moscow with new punitive tariffs on oil and other exports unless a ceasefire in Ukraine is reached by 8 August. He has recently shifted his tone on President Vladimir Putin, questioning the Russian leader’s commitment to peace and referring to Russia’s military as the “War Machine.”

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow this week for high-level talks with Russian officials, amid what appears to be a broader shift in Trump's foreign policy approach as geopolitical rivalries deepen.

India, for its part, remains firm in its stance, reiterating that its foreign and trade policy will remain guided by national interest—not by external pressure.