In a blistering post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald J. Trump slammed India for allegedly reselling Russian oil at a profit and ignoring the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He announced his intention to “substantially raise” tariffs on Indian goods entering the U.S. and impose additional penalties tied to India’s continued trade ties with Russia.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” Trump wrote.
India now faces the prospect of a double blow from the Trump administration: a blanket 25% tariff on all U.S.-bound goods and a separate penalty for its oil and defence procurements from Russia. Trump’s remarks have reignited concerns over India’s growing reliance on Russian crude, which has skyrocketed from just 0.2% of imports before the Ukraine war to 35–40% today.
According to Kpler data, India’s Russian crude imports stood at only 68,000 barrels per day (bpd) in January 2022. That figure surged to a peak of 2.15 million bpd in May 2023. Even today, Russia remains India’s largest oil supplier with an average of 1.78 million bpd—far ahead of Iraq (900,000 bpd) and Saudi Arabia (702,000 bpd).
India’s shift toward Russian oil began after Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow in response to its military operations in Ukraine. Russia offered steep discounts—up to $40 per barrel below the Brent benchmark—which incentivized Indian refiners to ramp up purchases.
The Trump administration has long viewed India’s ongoing oil trade with Russia as a geopolitical irritant. With Trump’s fresh warning and the threat of economic penalties looming, India’s energy strategy and global trade dynamics could face significant disruption.
