A main assistant for the president of the United States, Donald Trump, accused India on Sunday to effectively finance the Russian war in Ukraine buying oil from Moscow, after the US leader intensified the pressure on New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil.
“What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war buying the oil of Russia,” said Stephen Miller, deputy director of Cabinet of the White House and one of Trump’s most influential assistants.
Miller’s criticism was some of the strongest to the Trump administration about one of the main partners of the United States in the Indo-Pacific.
“People will be surprised by knowing that India is basically linked to China in the purchase of Russian oil. That is a surprising fact,” said Miller about Fox News Program ‘Futures on Sunday morning’.
The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
Indian government sources said Reuters On Saturday that New Delhi will continue to buy oil in Moscow despite the threats of the United States. A 25 percent tariff on Indian products entered into force on Friday as a result of their purchase of Russian military and energy equipment.
Trump has also threatened with 100 percent tariffs in American imports from countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches an important peace agreement with Ukraine.
Miller mitigated his criticism by pointing to Trump’s relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he described as “tremendous.”
