A senior aide to U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday accused India of indirectly financing Russia’s war in Ukraine by continuing to import Russian oil, following renewed pressure from Washington on New Delhi to halt such purchases.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff and a key White House adviser, issued the sharp criticism during an appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures.
“What President Trump made absolutely clear is that it is unacceptable for India to keep financing this war by buying oil from Russia,” Miller said, in one of the strongest rebukes of India by the Trump administration to date.
Miller added that many Americans would be surprised to learn that “India is essentially tied with China” as one of the top buyers of Russian oil — calling the revelation “astonishing.”
The Indian Embassy in Washington did not issue an immediate response. However, Indian government officials told Reuters on Saturday that New Delhi would continue purchasing Russian oil despite U.S. pressure.
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On Friday, a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the U.S. went into effect — part of a broader response to India’s ongoing trade and defense ties with Moscow. President Trump has also warned that countries continuing to buy Russian oil could face tariffs as high as 100%, unless Russia agrees to a significant peace deal with Ukraine.
Despite the tough rhetoric, Miller acknowledged the close ties between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing their relationship as “tremendous.”