Amid India’s sharp defence over Russian oil trade, Trump says he’s unaware of US imports of Russian fertilisers and chemicals, hints at major tariff moves.
Washington, August 6, 2025: In the backdrop of intensifying global scrutiny over energy trade with Russia, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was unaware of ongoing American imports of Russian fertilisers, chemicals, and uranium, even as he threatened stringent tariffs on nations purchasing Russian energy—including India.
“I don’t know anything about it. I’d have to check, but we’ll get back to you on that,” Trump told reporters in Washington when asked about India’s recent remarks highlighting continued US-Russia trade. He was addressing a press conference following the signing of an executive order establishing a White House task force for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
His remarks came hours after India launched a sharp counter-offensive against the United States and the European Union for what it termed “unjustified and unreasonable” criticism of its procurement of Russian crude oil.
India Defends Energy Purchases Amid Western Pressure
In an unusually firm statement on Monday night, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) questioned the double standards of Western nations, noting that both the US and EU continue trading extensively with Russia—far beyond energy.
“Where the US is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers as well as chemicals,” the MEA said. “In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable.”
India argued that its energy needs are driven by vital national interests, whereas the West’s trade includes non-essential items such as steel, machinery, and transport equipment. “Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the statement added.
Trump Threatens Steep Tariffs on India and Others
Responding to a separate question about imposing 100% tariffs on countries importing Russian energy, Trump did not confirm specific figures but warned, “We’ll be doing quite a bit of that. We’ll see what happens over the next fairly short period of time.”
In an earlier interview with CNBC on Tuesday morning, Trump accused India of “fuelling the Ukraine war machine” by continuing purchases of Russian oil and said he planned to raise tariffs on India “very substantially over the next 24 hours.”
Trump has repeatedly criticised India’s trade policy during both his presidential terms, and this latest salvo has further strained Washington-New Delhi ties on the global energy question.
‘I Stopped Five Wars,’ Trump Claims Again
At the Tuesday event, Trump reiterated a claim he has made over 30 times since May—taking credit for averting war between India and Pakistan. “I stopped five wars in the last five months,” he said. “Almost every one of them within days, including India and Pakistan.”
India, however, has consistently maintained that the 2021 understanding on ceasefire was reached through direct communication between military officials of the two nations, not due to any international mediation.
Trump added that he now wants to make the Ukraine conflict the sixth war he brings to an end. “We’re going to see what happens. This is the one we’re working hardest on,” he said, without elaborating on an earlier comment that the US has “a meeting with Russia” scheduled for Wednesday.
US Signals Possible Secondary Sanctions
Meanwhile, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce avoided direct comments on India’s strong remarks. When asked about India and China refusing to scale back Russian oil imports despite US pressure, Bruce said that the administration was considering secondary sanctions.
“That means targeting countries, companies, or entities doing business with Russia despite sanctions,” she said. “It will be up to President Trump to decide how to respond to those nations facilitating this war.”
She declined to “characterise or remark on another nation’s comments,” but added, “President Trump understands the entire field and has made it very clear he doesn’t like what’s been happening.”
A Geopolitical Balancing Act
As tensions rise over the geopolitics of oil and energy trade, India’s assertive response signals a recalibration of its global posture—one less willing to bow to Western narratives. The public diplomatic exchange also underscores the emerging friction between global south nations asserting energy independence and Western powers looking to tighten sanctions against Russia.
With Trump set to announce new trade decisions imminently, global markets and diplomatic watchers are closely monitoring whether his administration will follow through on its threat of punitive tariffs—especially against India, a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific.
