Trump Slams India for "Fueling the War" in Ukraine, Threatens Massive Tariff Hike

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a fresh escalation of tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump has accused India of indirectly supporting Russia's war in Ukraine through ongoing oil imports, warning that he will "very substantially" increase tariffs on Indian goods within the next 24 hours.

Speaking to CNBC in a televised interview, Trump claimed that India had failed to be a fair trading partner, stating, "They do a lot of business with us, but we don't do business with them." While the U.S. currently imposes a 25% tariff on Indian imports, Trump said that number could rise significantly due to New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil.

"India is fueling the war," he said bluntly, adding that previous offers from India to lower tariffs on U.S. imports were not good enough.

This isn't the first time Trump has taken aim at India over its energy ties with Russia. On July 31, he slapped a 25% tariff on Indian goods and warned of further penalties to come.

India, for its part, has pushed back against the mounting criticism. Officials in New Delhi labeled the Western pressure "unjustified and unreasonable," and pointed out that the U.S. itself continues to import Russian materials like uranium hexafluoride, palladium, and other industrial chemicals.

"These imports are not essential national needs like ours," India's External Affairs Ministry said, referring to its energy demands. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal further argued that the U.S. initially supported India's Russian oil imports during the early days of the Ukraine war to help stabilize global energy markets.

Trump Administration Doubles Down

On Sunday, a senior Trump official claimed that India's oil imports were helping bankroll Russia's military operations. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told Fox News that India is nearly on par with China in terms of Russian energy imports, contradicting New Delhi's claims of being a close ally to Washington.

"People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil," Miller said. "President Trump made it clear-this cannot go on."

He also criticized India's trade and immigration policies, calling them harmful to American workers. "India likes to portray itself as one of our best friends, but they don't even buy our products," Miller added.

Trump's comments and the looming tariff hike come at a time when India and the U.S. are trying to balance strategic cooperation with rising economic and geopolitical differences. While Washington has praised India's role in counterbalancing China, New Delhi's non-aligned stance on the Russia-Ukraine war continues to draw scrutiny from both American and European leaders.

Whether Trump's tariff threats will force policy change in India-or further strain bilateral ties-remains to be seen.